RACCOON FAMILY, 43 



the holes of trees. The natives are in the habit of finding out whether such a hole 

 is tenanted by a cacomistle, by noting if the bark surrounding the aperture 

 has been removed ; this removal of the bark being an invariable custom of the 

 animal. From three to four young are produced at a birth. B. astuta is in 

 the habit of carrying its tail bent back over its back. The only other species is 

 Sumichrast's cacomistle (B. *(> m /r///v/.s7/') from Central America. 



Another raccoon-like type of animal has been named Bassaricyon, and is at 

 present known to science only by a single skull from Costa Rica, and a skin from 

 Ecuador. These animals, which are probably extremely rare, have the same 

 number of teeth as the raccoons, but approximate so closely in appearance to the 

 under-mentioned kinkajou, that they are probably often mistaken for it by 

 collectors. Mr. O. Thomas considers that the resemblance of the two animals is a 

 case of true mimicry, although he is unable to imagine of what advantage it can be 

 for the bassaricyon to be mistaken for a kinkajou. 



THE COATIS. 

 Genus Nasua. 



The coatis, or, as they are often called, coatimundis, are easily recognised by 

 the great length of their snouts, on which account they are called by the Germans 

 Rilsselbdren (proboscis*- bears). They have the same number of teeth as the 

 raccoons, but the tusks, or canines, are longer and more flattened ; while, in con- 

 formity with the length of the snout, the skull is relatively longer and narrower. 



The snout, which is naked at the tip, is somewhat upturned, and projects far 

 beyond the extremity of the lower jaw, as is well shown in our coloured Plate ; it 

 is capable of a considerable amount of motion. The body is long, and rather 

 flattened, and the tapering tail is also elongated and of considerable depth. The 

 toes are more closely connected together than the raccoons, and are provided with 

 longer and stouter claws. There are two species of coatis. One of these, the 

 white-nosed coati (Nasua nasica), which is the species represented in the coloured 

 Plate, inhabits Mexico and Central America. It is characterised by the white 

 nose and upper lip, the dark brown fa.ce and cheeks, arid the length and softness 

 of its fur. In colour the long hairs of the back are tipped with either rufous, 

 fulvous, or whitish ; and the tail is frequently of the same colour as the back, 

 though it may have dark and light rings on the under-side of the basal half, or, as 

 in our illustration, complete rings. 



The second species is the red coati (N. rufa), inhabiting South America from 

 Surinam to Paraguay. In this species the fur is generally short and harsh, with 

 the longer hairs on the back tipped with black. The ears are relatively larger and 

 more hairy ; and the tail is invariably marked with from seven to nine broad fulvous 

 or rufous rings alternating with black ones ; its tip being black. Both species are 

 subject, however, to considerable individual variations of colour, and the distinction 

 between them is sometimes difficult to make out. 



These animals usually go about in small troops, comprising from 

 about eight to twenty individuals ; and are mainly arboreal. Their 



