CARNIVORA. 21? 



omnivorous, feeding greedily on bird's eggs, winch 

 they find in trees, and no less pleased with earth 

 worms, rooted up with the snout ; they descend 

 from trees head foremost, by turning the hind feet 

 outwards. The Coatis have a strong disagreeable 

 smell. 



Nasua socialis of the Prince of "Wied, includes 

 both the following, 



Nas. rufa. Rufous Coati. Somewhat less in 

 size than a domestic cat ; almost entirely bright ru- 

 fous; the muzzle greyish-black, with three white 

 spots about each eye, but no white streak down the 

 nose; ears and lower part of limbs black; tail with 

 eight or ten dark brown spots, lips, chin, and throat, 

 white. They live in the deepest forests of Brazil, 

 forming small troops or families, from six to eighteen; 

 and. in danger, caution each other by a shrill warn- 

 ing pipe. 



Nas. fusca. Brown Coati. This species is pro- 

 perly the Quasji of the Dutch ; in Guiana, the word 

 more properly pronounced quastje, denoting a droll 

 fellow, a pantomime, clown, which, in truth, is not 

 inapplicable to the ludicrously meddling, active, 

 climbing, inquisitive character of the animal, when 

 in captivity. In size, the brown is equal to the 

 former, but the fur on the superior parts of the body 

 is deep brown, dun, grey, or even orange yellow ; 

 below orange grey ; there are three white spots 

 round each eye, and a white streak passes down the 

 forehead ; the nape grey ; the extremity of the feet 



