THE WHITE-NOSED COATI 



{A T asua narica) 



The Coatimondis are the quaintest-looking members of the small family 

 of carnivores known as Procyonidce, and chiefly inhabiting America. The 

 absurd-looking long nose, which is remarkably flexible, is confined to the 

 Coatis, but the long tail and short legs, with five strongly-clawed toes on 

 each foot, are family characteristics, as is the climbing habit. The canine 

 teeth are remarkably strong, and flattened sideways like knife-blades. In 

 size the Coatis are about equal to a Scotch terrier ; there are two species, 

 the White-nosed one represented, which is Central American, and the Ring- 

 tailed Coati {Nasua rufa) of South America. Both species vary very 

 much in colour, but the more distinctly ringed tail of the Southern 

 species is a fairly good distinction as a rule, and it has longer ears and a 

 coarser coat. Its general hue is foxy-red, but it is sometimes iron-grey. 



Coatimondis are forest animals, and wander about either singly or 

 in troops, in search of prey. The White-nosed species, called Pisoti in 

 Nicaragua, was watched by Belt in that country hunting the great Iguana 

 Lizards : a single individual seemed to have but poor luck, for so soon as 

 he got near his apparently unconscious victim, the Lizard would, accord- 

 ing to its habit when alarmed, drop down to the ground, so that nothing 

 was left for his pursuer but to follow suit and try again. The more usual 

 method of the Coati, however, was to hunt in packs, some climbing the 

 trees to rouse the game, while others ran below, so that any unfortunate 

 creature hoping to escape from the scaling party by a jump would simply 

 fall into the arms of those underneath. 



In addition to reptiles, birds, and other animals, the Coatimondis feed 

 on fruit and other vegetable substances, being, like all the Procyonid 

 family* omnivorous to a greater or less extent. They show great dexterity 

 in manipulating their food, using the fore-paws more or less like hands, 

 while the snout is used both as a feeler and for ploughing up the ground, 

 in search of insect-grubs and worms. 



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