348 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



tame, and a very lovable little creature, with a beautiful skin. 

 They both had very fine eyes. 



The chief characteristics of this genus are, according to M. 

 Liais, a very long riose, which is, in fact, a trunk, and a long hairy 

 tail, which is not prehensile. The two specimens I saw twisted 

 their tail round any near object; but, as they were. confined, I 

 could not observe whether they used it as an aid to locomotion. 



The Indian name is cuati, from cua, belt, tim, nose, which 

 appears to indicate the flexibility of this organ. M. Liais recom- 

 mends Cuati as the generic name; Nasua is the recognized 

 appellation. 



There are two species : C. socialts, cuati de bandas, a 

 gregarious species, which flees when pursued ; C. solitaris, cuati 

 monde, a solitary species, fierce, which attacks and kills dogs. 

 Prince Max. distinguishes the two species ; Azara allows only one. 



OUNCES (Digitigrada). 



On^a sussuarana (Felida). Brazilian etymology is phonetic,* 

 so I was hardly surprised to find this name spelt in different ways 

 by M. Liais and Captain Burton. The former has suguarana, the 

 latter guguaranna, or gugurana. 



M. Liais, after describing the jaguars, proceeds to the cou- 

 gouars or pumas (Felts concolor, Linn.), which approach the lion. 

 He says,f " These animals are known in Brazil under the name 

 of su^uarana, and two distinct species are there recognized ; the 

 true suguarana, called also onga vermelho (red ounce), and 

 suguarana do lombo preto (with black loins). The former is the 

 larger. 



" The name Suguarana is an alteration of Qucuacuara, or Gua- 

 zouara (of Azara), and Soasoarana, Cougouacouara, Quguacarana, 

 Cougouora, etc., brought from Guiana by other travellers; and it 

 is also even the origin of the altered name Cougouar. 



" k This name Qucuacuara is derived from fu, the food, cuacu, to 

 cover up, and ara, a final syllable often used to describe a habit. 

 This word, therefore, means he who covers his food, and is another 



* For instance, they write cacha9a or caxaa, for white rum. 

 t " Climats, Faune," etc., pp. 459, et seq. 



