THE COAITI, OR COAITI-MONDI. 



as to form a miniature and mobile proboscis. In their general habits and diet, they 

 very strongly resemble the racoons, and are as admirable climbers of trees as can be 

 found in the animal kingdom. 



The extraordinary snout with which the Coaitis are gifted is very useful to the pos- 

 sessor, being employed for the purpose of rooting in the ground in search of worms 

 and insects, together with other important uses. When they drink, the Coaitis lap the 

 water after the manner of dogs, and when so engaged, turn up their flexible snouts, so 

 as to keep that useful member from being wetted more than is necessary. They are 

 inhabitants of Southern America, and are found in small companies upon the trees 

 among which they reside, and on the thin branches of which they find the greater part 

 of their food. Two examples of the Coaitis will be briefly described. 



The COAITI-MONDI, or RED COAITI, derives its name from the reddish chestnut hue 

 which prevails over the greater portion of the fur, and is only broken by the black 

 ears and legs, the maroon-colored bands upon the tail, and the white hairs which edge 

 the upper jaw, and entirely over the lower. The texture of the fur is rather harsh and 

 wiry, and of no very great importance in commerce. Upon the paws are certain cur- 

 ious tubercles, which alone would serve to identify the animal were it entirely destroyed 



COAITI, OR COAITI-MONDI. Nasua Kufa. 



with the exception of a single foot. It is extremely active in the ascent and descent 

 of trees, and pursues its prey among the limbs with great certainty. Its food con- 

 sists of sundry vegetable and animal substances, but the creature seems to prefer the 

 latter to the former. 



When the Coaiti descends a tree, it does so with its head downward, securing itself 

 from falling by hitching the claws of the hinder feet into the inequalities of the bark, 

 and displaying by the act no small amount of flexibility in the jointing of the hinder 

 limbs. It is a nocturnal animal, and does not display its true liveliness until the shades 

 of evening begin to draw on, but lies curled up in a curious but comfortable attitude, 

 its long and bushy tail serving for blanket and pillow. Towards evening, however, 

 the Coaiti arouses itself from its lethargy, and becomes full of life and vigor, careering 

 about the branches with extraordinary rapidity of movement and certainty of hold, and 

 agitating its mobile nose with unceasing energy, as if for the purpose of discovering by 

 the snout the presence of some welcome food. It is a merciless robber of birds' nests, 

 and will eat parent, eggs, or young, with equal appetite. 



Although possessed of a very irritable temper, the Coaiti is tamed without difficulty 

 to a certain extent, but is always capricious in its affections, and cannot be trusted 

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