4i8 



THE NARICA, OR QUASJE. 



without danger. When attacked by men or dogs, the Coaiti fights desperately, and can 

 inflict such dangerous wounds with its double-edged canine teeth, that it is although 

 so small an animal, no despicable antagonist. 



ANOTHER species of Coaiti inhabits the same regions as the last-mentioned animal. 

 This is the NARICA, or QUASJE, which is sometimes called the BROWN COAITI, in order 

 to distinguish it from the red species: Sometimes the name is spelled as Quaschi. 



It is a very lively and amusing animal, and possessed of singular powers of nose 

 and limb. Distrustful by nature, it will very seldom venture to approach a strange ob- 

 ject until it has endeavored to ascertain the nature of the unknown by means of its 

 sense of smell, which is marvellously acute. It seems to be as inquisitive as it is dis- 

 trustful, and will not be satisfied until it has by gradual degrees approached and ex- 

 amined anything which it does not quite understand. 



One of these animals, which was kept in confinement for some time, was extremely 

 tame to those who understood the peculiarity of its temper, but was irresistibly morose 

 and sulky with those who would not respect its customs. Any stranger who ventured 



NARICA, OR QUASJE, -Afcsua Narlca. 



to approach the animal was repelled with open mouth and threatening cries, unless ne 

 propitiated the creature by offering it some delicacy of which it was fond. It would then 

 lay aside its suspicious demeanor, and become suddenly confidential, returning the 

 caresses of its newly-found friend, and searching eagerly for a further supply of food. 



It proved to be quite a useful inhabitant of the house when it was domesticated, for 

 it was accustomed to roam over the premises in chase of mice and rats, which it 

 pursued unrelentingly through house, hay-loft, and stables. It was also accustomed to 

 pay visits into the garden, where it spent much of its time in catching snails and slugs 

 and in digging after worms, a task for which its powerful claws are eminently calcu- 

 lated to adapt it. When it was supplied with meat, it was accustomed to tear its food 

 to pieces with its claws before carrying it to the mouth ; and in the act of feeding, it 

 always supplied itself by hitching one of its claws in the morsel which it was about to 

 carry to its mouth. It struck up a friendship with a little dog, and would permit its 

 four-footed friend to occupy the same bed, but would never endure the society of any 

 other animal. 



The color of this creature is extremely variable, as it seldom or never happens that 

 two specimens are marked in precisely the same manner. In some individuals the dark 

 portion of the fur is brown, mottled with black ; but the general hue of the fur is a brown 



