120 



THE COAITI-MONDI. 



i!|Si;Vi!^t> 



useful to the possessor, being employed for the purpose of rooting in 

 the ground in search of worms and insects, together with other import- 

 ant uses. When they drink, the Coaitis lap the water after the manner 

 of dogs, and when so engaged turn up their flexible snout, so as to keep 

 that useful member from being wetted more than is necessary. They are 

 inhabitants of Southern America, and are found in small companies 

 upon the trees among which they reside, and on the thin branches of 

 which they find the greater part of their food. Two examples of the 

 Coaitis will be briefly described. 



The CoAiTi-MONDi, or Ked Coaiti, derives its name from the reddish 

 chestnut hue which prevails over the greater portion of the fur, and is 



only broken by the black ears and 

 legs, the maroon-colored bands 

 upon the tail, and the white hairs 

 which edge the upper jaw and 

 entirely cover the lower. The 

 texture of the fur is rather harsh 

 and wiry, and of no very great 

 importance in commerce. Upon 

 the paws are certain curious tu- 

 bercles, which alone would serve 

 to identify the animal were it 

 entirely destroyed with the excep- 

 tion of a single foot. It is ex- 

 tremely active in the ascent and 

 descent of trees, and pursues its prey among the limbs with great cer- 

 tainty. Its food Consists of sundry vegetable and animal substances, 

 but the creature seems to prefer the latter to the former. 



It is a nocturnal animal, and does not show its true liveliness until 

 the shades of evening begin to draw on, but lies curled up in a curious 

 but comfortable attitude, its long and bushy tail serving for blanket 

 and pillow. Toward evening, however, the Coaiti rouses itself from 

 its lethargy, and becomes full of life and vigor, careering about the 

 branches with extraordinary rapidity of movement and certainty of 

 hold, and agitating its mobile nose with unceasing energy, as if for the 

 purpose of discovering by the snout the presence of some welcome food. 

 It is a merciless robber of birds' nests, and will eat parent, eggs, or 

 young with equal appetite. 



Althouirh possessed of a very irritable temper, the Coaiti is tamed 

 without difficulty to a certain extent, but is always capricious in its 

 affections, and cannot be trusted without danger. When attacked by 

 men or do.irs, the Coaiti fights desperately, and can inflict such dangerous 

 wounds with its double-edged canine teeth that it is, although so small 

 an animal, no despicable antagonist. 



The Coaiti-Mo.sdi {Nasua Rufa). 



