THE KINKAJOU, OR POTTO. 419 



tinted more or less with chestnut, and occasionally being so pale as to be of a warm 

 fawn color. The under surface of the body and the internal face of the limbs are of a 

 gray hue, tinged with yellow or orange, according to the individual, and extending, in 

 some cases, to the sides of the neck and the lower jaw. The coat of the Narica is 

 rather thick, and the texture of the fur is harsh ; it does not lie closely to the body, 

 but presents a rather shaggy and rough aspect. 



THE singular creature which is known under the title of KINKAJOU, or POTTO, has 

 been the means of perplexing systematic naturalists in their laudable attempts to place 

 each animal in its proper position. 



On account of its external aspect and its general habits, it has been considered as 

 one of the Lemurine family, and was termed in consequence the Yellow Macauco, or the 

 Yellow Lemur (Lemur flavus). As, however, the structure of its teeth and limbs is 

 entirely different from that of the lemurs, and very closely approaches the carnivorous 

 type, it has been placed among the flesh-eating animals, under the name of Mexican Weasel 

 ( Viverra caudivolvuld). But the flat surfaces of its under teeth, and its curiously prehen- 



KINKAJOU, OR POTTO. Cerocoleptercaudlvolvulus. 



sile tail, are characteristics of sufficient importance to remove it from the pure carnivora, 

 and place it among the animals which are capable of eating both animal and vegetable 

 food, so that it has at present found a resting-place at the end of the ursine animals. 



It is an inhabitant of Southern America, and is spread over a very large extent of 

 country, so that it is known in different places under different appellations, such as 

 Honey Bear, Manaviri, or Guchumbi. When full grown, the Kinkajou is equal to a 

 large cat in size, but is very much stronger in proportion to the dimensions of its body. 

 The color of the animal is a very light dun, obscurely traversed by narrow darker bands, 

 that run over the back towards the ribs, and partly follow their course. Another darker 

 band is observable round the neck, but all these marks are so very indistinct, that they 

 can only be seen in a favorable light. 



The most remarkable point in this animal is the extreme length and flexibility of the 

 tongue, which the creature is able to protrude to a marvellous extent, and which it can 

 insinuate into the smallest crevices in search of the insects which have taken shelter 

 therein. It is said that the animal employs its long tongue for the purpose of thrusting 

 that organ into the bee-cells, and licking out the sweet contents of the waxen treasury. 

 With its tongue it can perform many of the offices of an elephant's trunk, and will 



