336 



THE KINK A J OIT, OR POTTO. 



It is a merciless robber of birds' nests, and will eat parent, eggs, or yonng with, equal 

 appetite. 



Although possessed of a very irritable temper, the Coaiti is tamed without difficulty to a 

 certain extent, but is always capricious in its affections, and cannot be trusted without danger. 

 When attacked by men or dogs, the Coaiti fights desperately, and can inflict such dangerous 

 wounds with its double-edged cauine teeth, that it is, although so small an animal, no despi- 

 cable antagonist. 



■1 



IBHSfii^ 



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 jfl amis). As, how- 

 ever, 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 caudivolvuZa). But the 

 flat surfaces of its under teeth, and its curi- 

 ously prehensile tail, are characteristics of 

 sufficient importance to remove it from the 

 pure carnivora, and place it among the ani- 

 mals which are capable of eating both ani- 

 mal 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 Amer- 

 ica, 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 insin- 

 uate 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 frequently seize and draw towards 

 its mouth the articles of food which may be beyond the reach of its lips. It has also been seen 

 to use its tail for the same purpose. 



Assisted by its prehensile tail, the Kinkajou is an admirable and fearless climber, possess- 

 ing the capability of suspending its body by the hinder feet and the tail, and remaining in this 

 inverted attitude for a considerable space of time. 



It is eminently nocturnal in its habits, being sadly distressed by the effect of daylight 



KINKAJOU, OK POTTO. — Vercoleptes caudivolvulus. 



