THE 



NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



Vol. 15 December, 1919 No. 9 



Cooty, a Pet Coati 



Alfred E. Emersox, Jr. 

 Tropical Research Station, British Guiana 



He came to us one day, dragged in by an Indian in a merciless 

 way. 



"Ha, Kippache! What you want for him?" 



"FourdoUars." 



"Too much, I give two dollars," and after a short time the Indian 

 went away with his two dollars and left to our care a little jungle 

 inhabitant with a long inquisitive nose, and bright Uttle beads of 

 eyes. We gave him a wide berth, having a suspicion of all jungle 

 creatures with jaws, and his plaintive little squeaks failed to draw 

 us. However, we finally decided the twine aroimd his neck was 

 too sharp and we must either place him in a box or invent another 

 method of holding him. A little leather collar was finally decided 

 upon and quickl}' constructed. Then the great question arose as 

 to how we were going to put the collar on. It was plainly a case 

 that required ner\e and quickness. We approached as closely as 

 possible, then one of us made a quick grab, and amid loud shrieks 

 and squeaks we put the collar around his neck, fastened it tightly 

 with a string attached and backed away in time to escape what we 

 thought would be a fiuious charge. 



I shall never forget that scene, the holding of the shrieking little 

 animal by all the strength we could muster, and his wild s^^ruggles 

 and waving of legs. Since that day I have taken the collar off 

 and put it on while he stayed in my lap, without any trouble; for, 

 the day after that episode, we found to otir surprise he was very 

 friendly and tame and ever since he has crawled about on us, 

 played with us, and formed a great part of our amusement and 

 has won his own place in our affections. 



Before I go fiu-ther, I must explain that he really isn't a he. but 

 is a ' 'her. ' ' However, we adopted him for a he and his v^ild kitten- 



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