848 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description. 



THE C04TI-MONDL 



THIS quadruped has some resemblance to 

 the bear, in the length of its hind-legs, the struc- 

 ture of its paws, the form of its feet, and the 

 bushiness of its hair. The tail is long, and, in 

 general, annulated, like that of the racoon ; the 

 upper jaw is much larger than the lower, and 

 very pliable; the eyes are small, and the ears 

 short and rounded. The hair is smooth, glossy, 

 and of a bright bay colour, except on the breast, 

 where it inclines to white. 



Linnaeus describes one of these animals, which 

 he kept a considerable time, in the hope of being 

 able to bring it to subjection ; but this was found 

 impracticable. It was extremely obstinate and 

 capricious; and frequently committed serious 

 depredations among the poultry, tearing off their 

 heads, and sucking their blood. When any per- 

 son attempted to lay hold of it contrary to its 

 inclination, it defended itself with astonishing 

 force, and adhered closely to the legs of those 

 with whom it was familiar, when inclined to ran- 

 sack their pockets, or to steal any thing from 

 them : but, as it had an insurmountable aversion 

 to hogs' bristles, a touch with the smallest brush 

 made it desist. 



Its mode of living was very singular : it slept 

 regularly from midnight till noon ; kept awake 

 the rest of the day, and uniformly walked about 

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