82 



and comparative measurements of parts in the two specimens, of 

 which the following is an abstract. 



" The differences which exist in two specimens of the Kinkajou in 

 the Society's Museum have led me to introduce them to the atten- 

 tion of the Meeting, as it is not improbable that they may ultimate- 

 ly prove to be distinct species. The Kinkajou, however, is so rare 

 an animal both in the museums and menageries of our country, that 

 we want the means of ascertaining whether or not, like that allied 

 animal the Coati, its colour be subject to variations of tint and mark- 

 ing. But independently of the great difference in colour which 

 obtains in the two specimens before the meeting, and on which, 

 taken as a solitary character, we should hesitate to ground a specific 

 distinction, at least until we had compared several specimens, it ap- 

 pears that the ears of the rufous specimen (which was lately pre- 

 sented by George Vaughan, Esq.) are more elongated than those of 

 the other, which died in the Society's Menagerie, where it had lived 

 for many years. It is on this difference, rather than on that of co- 

 lour, that I have suspected a specific distinction ; though I confess 

 my susjiicions are strengthened by the latter as a concomitant. A 

 knowledge of the precise localities from which each specimen was 

 obtained would be of great use, but on this point, unfortunately, I 

 have not been able to gain any information. 



" In distinguishing between the two species oi Kinkajou, I consider 

 it best to drop entirely the specific title caudivolvulus , (which is ap- 

 plicable to both, and is descriptive rather of a generic than a speci- 

 fic character,) the only mode in fact by which to avoid all possibility 

 of confusion. 



" Our first species will stand as Cercoleptes megalotus. It is di- 

 stinguished by the form of the ears, which are elongated, narrow, 

 rounded at the tip, and somewhat flapping ; their length is 1 inch 

 3 lines, their breadth 7 lines. 



" Internally they are sparely covered with thinly set soft hairs ; 

 externeilly they are fully clothed with hairs of a pale yellowish 

 white. 



" The fur is close, short, thick, and rigid ; the general colour is 

 deep reddish yellow, or fulvous, with an obscure band of a darker co- 

 lour, down the top of the head, the back, and upper surface of the 

 tail, approaching to chestnut. The sides of the body and the insides 

 of the limbs are pale fulvous ; the abdomen and throat are nearly as 

 dark as the back, and a stripe of deep chestnut commences about the 

 end of the sternum, and is continued to the inguinal region. The 

 tail is slender, and the hairs of this part are very rigid. 



" To our second species we propose to give the name oi Cei-coleptes 

 brachyotus. 



" The fur is full, soft, and moderately long ; of a universally glossy 

 yellowish grey clouded with brown, especially over the nose, on the 

 top of the head, and down the back; and indeed little less so on the 

 sides of the body and outer surface of the limbs. The abdomen, the 

 insides of the limbs, and the throat are dusky straw colour. The ears 

 are broad, short, and rounded ; covered, but somewhat sparingly, on 



