
NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 613 
a large living R and a few mammals, were two large stone 
pans and a ‘‘masher,” discovered on the island of Corinto, on the Pacific 
coast of Ni icaragun, having been washed out of the sand by a late heavy 
rain. s ans” are very interesting, in showing that the same kind 
of utensils and implements of stone were in use by a forgotten race, as 
those now in common use by the natives of the interior of Nicaragua; for 
MeNiel in use by the natives, for the purpose of preparing a coarse food 
by mashing hulled corn on the pan by means of a nearly cylindrical stone, 
held in both hands and used asa “masher.” This fact is doubly interest- 
te 
used for an identical or very similar purpose by the aborigines of our 
own land. 
To Col. A. Haratzthy, of Corinto, the Ethnological collection of the 
Academy is indebted for a most unique and ancient pair of enormous stir- 
Capt. A. T. Douglass also sent an addition to our live stock, by Mr. 
MeNiel, in the form of a most mischievous and interesting little animal, 
about the size of a cat, combining the mischievousness of a monkey 
-With habits between a bear and raccoon, who, since his instalment at the 
Academy, has evinced a decided affection for the cat and a most mani- 
fest desire i ascertain the nature of the contents of every box and bottle 
n the roo si proved to us that he is a good observer of objects 
of ae very discrimin nating naturalist. The Nicaraguan name 
of this asaina little fellow is ‘‘Pisota.” In South America, two or 
three oe ee species of the genus are generally known under the 
eo 
As iiaiai i in ea November NATURALIST, the continuance of the expedi- 
tion ‘depends on the disposal of duplicate specimens to various parties, 
an 
large number of specimens are now nearly ready to be dis- 
tributed to arrak and there are plenty of most of the species to 
fu good suites to all who apply soon scriptions will be received 
ber of specimens, unless only some special class of specimens is required 
by the subscriber. 
For further information regarding the expedition, address F. W. PUT- 
4M, Director P. A. 8. 
