200 



THE BEARS. 



Fig. loo.— The Social Coati (Nasua socialis). 



forming the genus Nasua, approximate very 

 closely to the raccoons in their dentition, 

 which is distinguished solely by the triangular 



laterally compressed canines. Of 

 these there are several varieties 

 or species, distributed over the 

 whole of the mainland of South 

 America. 



The body is rather long, but 

 powerful, and the coati can be re- 

 cognized at the first glance by its 

 long proboscis-like snout, which 

 is supported by a double cartil- 

 aginous tube having the nostrils 

 at the end. The shape and 

 movements of this snout remind 

 us very much of certain insec- 

 tivores. The legs are short and 

 strong, the toes united for the 

 greater part of their length, and 

 armed with strong claws flat- 

 tened on the sides. The tail, 

 which is almost as long as the body, reminds 

 us by its pointed extremity of that of the 

 Egyptian ichneumon. 



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