in captivity in lower bengal. 95 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — Coatis are hardy animals, requiring no special treatment 

 with regard to their housing; as they are rather destructive animals, 

 the cage needs to be strong. When kept in one of a series of cages in 

 a row, they have been known to bite other animals through the wire or 

 grated partition, whenever they had a chance ; the partition separating 

 them from other animals should therefore be lined with thin planks or 

 stout wire of a small mesh. A small block of wood or a piece of stone 

 should be given them for scratching their claws on. 



Food. — Boiled beef forms their ordinary diet in captivity, but they 

 eat fruits, eggs, small birds, land and fresh-water snails, frogs, lizards 

 and beetles ; they are in fact omnivorous. 



Tkeatment in sickness. 



These animals have been known to suffer from diarrhoea and 

 dysentery which yield to change of diet. 



Observations on the habits of a Coati. 



Coatis are restless, inquisitive animals, poking their long truncated 

 noses into everything ; their footfall is heavy, and their cry is harsh 

 and grating, but very subdued. They are bold animals, and although 

 not ferocious, their temper can never be trusted. 



(103) THE KINKAJOU. 

 (CERCOLEPTES CAUDIVOLVULUS-(P^.) ) 



Description. — General colour maroon brown; nose short, accu- 

 minated ; ear oblong ; tail elongate, hairy and prehensile. It is about 

 the size of a cat, but slender. 



Sab. — South and Central America. 



Length of life in captivity. 



The maximum period during which a specimen has lived in the 

 garden has been only a little over three years. 



Treatment in health. 



Sousing. — As the animal is fond of climbing trees it should have 

 a place assigned to it where it can indulge in its favourite habits, and 

 for this purpose the cage ought to be somewhat high, with dry branches 

 of trees stuck inside it. A wire cage, some 8 or 10 feet long, 6 feet 

 broad and 7 or 8 feet high, with a shelf and a box near the roof as a 

 retiring place, may answer very well. The cage may be either isolated 

 or in connection with any other structure. 



Food. — Small birds, eggs, bread, milk and insects (the animal 

 that was exhibited in the garden had no liking for the latter). 



