POTTO. 77 



traits in its character: — It had previously enjoyed 

 complete liberty, and was found a useful inhabitant of 

 the barns and stables of its master, which it soon cleared 

 of rats and mice, which it caught with great dexterity ; 

 it would also search in the garden for worms and snails. 

 On being put under restraint, it bit at every person ; 

 but, as soon as it came to be regularly fed, it evinced 

 much docility ; it would thrust its long muzzle under a 

 sleeve or waistcoat, and utter a little soft cry of pleasure. 

 When it scratched itself, it frequently made use of both 

 its fore paws at once; and it had a singular custom of 

 rubbing the base of its tail between its fore paws, — an 

 action which appeared quite inexplicable. It soon took 

 a fancy to a little dog ; and, as the friendship seemed 

 mutual, they were both allowed to inhabit the same 

 cage. 



The Potto. 



Cercoleptes caudivolvulus, Illiger. Viverra caudivolvula, 

 Schreber. Potat, Buffon. Yellow Macauco, Pennant. 

 Kinkajou, Desmarest. 



This is one of the most singular and apparently ano- 

 malous quadrupeds we have yet mentioned. It is from 

 the forests of South America, and is by no means an 

 uncommon animal in the menageries of Europe. Its 

 general appearance is so much like that of a lemur, that 

 Pennant classed it, without hesitation, with that family, 

 while in its teeth and feet it shows a strong affinity to 

 the feline race ; from these last, however, it essentially 

 differs in having a long prehensile tail. Of its natural 

 habits little appears to be known. Baron Humboldt 

 affirms that it makes use of its long tongue to suck 

 honey, and hence is a great destroyer of the nests of 

 bees : this habit has procured for it, among the mis- 

 sionaries, the name of the Honey Bear. 



M. Fred. Cuvier records some interesting particulars 

 of an individual in the Royal collection, which will tend 

 much to show the probable situation of this animal in 



