NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Mode of defence. 



it> length makes nearly a fourth part of the whole 

 figure. 



At ji distance, this animal looks like a great 

 fox, and some travellers, for that reason, call him 

 the American fox. He is possessed of great 

 strength and agility, which render him capable 

 of defending himself against a large dog, and 

 even the jaguar will sometimes yield to his supe- 

 rior prowess. 



AY hen attacked, he raises himself on his hind- 

 legs, and makes use of his fore-legs to defend 

 himself, in the same manner as the bear. After 

 seizing his adversary with his talons, he falls on 

 his back, and fights with the most invincible ob- 

 stinacy to the last extremity. His skin is almost 

 invulnerable from its thickness, being covered 

 with a long bushy hair, in consequence of which 

 he generally comes oft' victorious. 



The legs of this quadruped are about a foot 

 long ; the fore-legs arc more slender and some- 

 what higher than those behind, and armed with 

 four strong claws, the middle ones being consi- 

 derably longer than the rest. The hind-feet 

 have five claws. The body and head are covered 

 with black and white hair; and the tail is long, 

 tufted, and flattened towards the end ; with this 

 appendage the animal sometimes shelters itself 

 from the rain, or heat of the sun, by throwing it 

 over its back : when perfectly composed, ii 

 sweeps the way with it as it goes; but \\hcn agi- 

 tated, it moves briskly to either side, 

 i 



