CARNIVORA 83 



uncooked," with equal avidity. The Racoon exhibits a peculiar 

 fondness for sweets of every kind, and a great dislike for acids. 

 It is fond of water, and before eating its food usually washes it ; 

 hence its name Zo/or, or washer. When hard pursued by the 

 hunter, the animal takes to a tree, but unless the tree is very 

 large, the pursuer is still after the " coon." If he cannot be 

 taken otherwise, the axe levels the tree to the ground, when he 

 is soon dispatched. The more common method of taking him is 

 by box traps, baited with an ear of corn, a fish or a squirrel. 

 For several months during winter, this animal hibernates in the 

 hollow of some large tree, leaving its retreat only occasionally 

 and when the weather is warm. The flesh is eatable, and the 

 fur considered by hatters next in value to that of the beaver. 



Proycyon cancrivorus, (lat. cancer, a crab; two, to devour.) 

 CRAB EATING RACOON. This species has a longer and more slen- 

 der body than the common racoon. As observed in California, it 

 conceals itself during the day, in the holes of decayed oak trees, 

 which exist in the branches, not in the trunk itself, (Aud.) Be- 

 sides crabs, frogs and fish, it feeds on birds, eggs, fruits, etc., and 

 is said to be specially fond of the sugar cane. 



Nasua, (lat. from nasus, a nose.) The COATI-MONDI, found in 

 Brazil, Guiana, and Paraguay, is like the Racoon, characterized 

 by nocturnal habits, a semi-plantigrade mode of progress, and 

 facility of climbing, but is readily distinguished from the racoons 

 by its snout, which is quite long and extremely flexible ; also by its 

 longer and more slender body, and by its feet, which are stronger 

 and well fitted for digging. The animal uses its snout in routing 

 the worms and insects, which it digs up. The size is about that 

 of a large cat, and in addition to insects and worms, it eats birds 

 and eggs, and sometimes roots. Like the cat, it descends a tree 

 with the head downwards, and it is even more active than that 

 animal. The smell of the Coati seems to be more highly devel- 

 oped than any other sense. It is easily tamed, but is irritable 

 and not to be touched without caution. 



Cercoleptes, (Gr. x^wos, kerkos, a tail, ACTTOS, Zeptos, thin.) 

 caudivolvulus, (Lat. cauda. tail, volvulus, twisted.) The POTTO 

 KINKAJOU, or MEXICAN WEASEL, is found in Mexico, and the 

 warmer parts of South America, resembling the Coati in its habits, 

 but showing more activity, and having a long tail, which is prehen- 

 sile, and used after the manner in which the spider monkeys use 

 theirs. Its size is that of a cat, but its limbs are shorter, thicker 

 and more muscular. The tongue is long, slender, and very ex- 

 tensible, and used for drawing out of crevices, insects which are 

 beyond the reach of its paws. This animal is a great 



