ANIMALS. 5ol 



to do more injury in ;i single iiiglit tlian the labours of a moiuli 

 can re]):iir. 



But though, when wild, they are thus troublesome, in a state 

 ot tanieness no animal is more harmless or aniusiiii,' ; they are 

 capable of being instructed in various little amusing tricks. Tlie 

 racoon is playful and cleanly, and is very easily suj)ported •, it eats 

 of every thing that is given it, and, if left to itself, no cat can be 

 a better provider ; it examines every corner, eats of all flesh, 

 either boiled or raw, eggs, fruits, or corn ; insects themselves 

 cannot escape it, and, if left at liberty in a garden, it will feed 

 ujjon snails, worms, and beetles ; but it has a particular fondness 

 for sweets of every kind, and to be possessed of these in its wild 

 .^tate, it incurs every danger. Though it will eat its provisions 

 dry, it will for choice dip them in water, if it ha[)pens to be in 

 the way. It ht's one peculiarity which few others have been found 

 to possess — it drinks as well by lapping like a dog as by sucking 

 like the horse. 



CHAP. XIIL 



THE COATIMONDI.* 



Thk first peculiarity with which this animal strikes the spec- 

 tator is the extreme length of its snout, which, in some measure, 

 resembles that of the hog, but elongated to a surprising degree; 

 it bears some distant resemblance to the animal last described, 

 except that the neck and the body are longer, the fur shorter, 

 and the eyes smaller ; but its principal distinction, as was said 

 before, consists in the shape of its nose ; the upper jaw being 

 an inch longer than the lower, and the snout, which is moveable 

 in every direction, turning up at the end. Like the racoon, it 

 sits upon the hinder legs with great ease, and, in this position, 

 with both paws carries the food to its mouth. 



This animal is very subject to eat its own tail, which is rather 

 longer than its body : but this strange appetite is not peculiar to 

 the coati alone ; the mococo, and some of the monkey kinds, do 



* Tho roatiiiionili is oii(> nf the weasel fribe, and is now kuowii by Uie 

 name of the Brazilian weasel, 



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