THE COAITI-MONDI, OR RED COAITI. 335 



more addicted to cancricide than the animal which has just been described. In size it is larger 

 than the common Racoon, and its color is not quite the same. 



The tail is short in proportion to the body, and is marked with six black rings upon a 

 grayish or blackish-yellow ground. The fur of the body is rather variable in different individ- 

 uals, but is generally composed of a blackish-gray washed with a tinge of yellow, the darker 

 and the lighter tints predominating on different parts of the body and limbs. On the head, 

 neck, and along the spine, the black tinge prevails, while the rest of the body and the sides of 

 the neck are almost wholly of the yellowish -gray hue. A very dark brown patch encloses each 

 eye, and, passing backwards almost to the ears, is merged into a dark spot on the crown of the 

 head. The Racoon has been mentioned by several travellers under different names, such as 

 Raton, Mapach, Agouarapope, Yllanraton, Maxile, Wasch-Bar, and Cioutlamacasque. 



The Racoon, an excellent figure of which is here given, is peculiar to the North American 

 Continent. Its geographical range is very great, being found in every portion of North Amer- 

 ica, as high as 60°. Paraguay is as far south as it has been observed. Its habits are nocturnal. 

 Though it is carnivorous by nature, it prefers vegetable food at times,- as is the case with the 

 Black Bear. 



The Black-footed Racoon inhabits the Pacific coast from Puget' s Sound to the Rio Grande 

 in Texas. It is like the preceding in general appearance, but excels it in size. 



The Psora, or California Coon (Procyon psora), was discovered on the Pacific coast just 

 before the occupation of California by the United States. It is more dog-like in general 

 appearance, standing higher, and having a slender tail. The Crab-eating Racoon is found in 

 Central America and farther south. 



The animals which compose the curious genus that is known by the name of Narica, are 

 easily recognized on account of the singular length of the nose, which is prolonged so as to 

 form a miniature and mobile proboscis. In their general habits and diet they very strongly 

 resemble the racoons, and are as admirable climbers of trees as can be found in the animal 

 kingdom. 



The extraordinary snout with which the Coaitis are gifted is very useful to the possessor, 

 being employed for the purpose of rooting in the ground in search of worms and insects, 

 together with other important uses. When they drink, the Coaitis lap the water after the 

 manner of dogs, and when so engaged, turn up their flexible snouts, so as to keep that useful 

 member from being wetted more than is necessary. They are inhabitants of Southern America, 

 and are found in small companies upon the trees among which they reside, and on the thin 

 branches of which they find the greater part of their food. Two examples of the Coaitis will 

 be briefly described. 



The Coaiti-mondi, or Red Coaiti, derives its name from the reddish-chestnut hue which 

 prevails over the greater portion of the fur, and is only broken by the black ears and legs, the 

 maroon-colored bands upon the tail, and the white hairs which edge the upper jaw, and entirely 

 cover the lower. The texture of the fur is rather harsh and wiry, and of no very great impor- 

 tance in commerce. Upon the paws are certain curious tubercles, which alone would serve to 

 identify the animal were it entirely destroyed with the exception of a single foot. It is 

 extremely active in the ascent and descent of trees, and pursues its prey among the limbs with 

 great certainty. Its food consists of sundry vegetable and animal substances, but the creature 

 seems to prefer the latter to the former. 



When the Coaiti descends a tree, it does so with its head downward, securing itself from 

 falling by hitching the claws of the hinder feet into the inequalities of the bark, and display- 

 ing by the act no small amount of flexibility in the jointing of the hinder limbs. It is a noc- 

 turnal animal, and does not display its true liveliness until the shades of evening begin to 

 draw on, but lies curled up in a curious but comfortable attitude, its long and bushy tail serv- 

 ing for blanket and pillow. Towards evening, however, the Coaiti arouses itself from its 

 lethargy, and becomes full of life and vigor, careering about the branches with extraordinary 

 rapidity of movement and certainty of hold, and agitating its mobile nose with unceasing 

 energy, as if for the purpose of discovering by the snout the presence of some welcome food. 



