H 
coatis and raccoons than with the ViverridcB, among which it 
has heretofore been classed. 
The Coati {Nasua nasica) will be readily recognized by 
its long, pointed snout. There are two varieties, the Red and 
the Brown Coati, though they are probably of one species — 
native to Mexico, Central and Upper South America. It is 
worthy of note that the first wild Coati ever found within the 
limits of the United States was captured in 1877, near Fort 
Brown, Texas, by Dr. Merrill, U. S.A. This species is allied 
by many points of structure to the bears and raccoons, and has 
been placed in the same family as the latter. 
The Bornean Sun Bear (^Helarctos euryspilus') and the 
Himalayan Bear (^Ursus tibetanus') belong to a group of the 
UrsidcB known as sun bears, from their favorite habit of bask- 
ing in the sun. They are in the same cage, but may be read- 
ily recognized by the mane and larger size of the Himalayan 
Bear and also by the V-shaped spot on the breast, which is 
white in this and orange in the Bornean Bear. 
The Rodentia is a very large order, characterized by the ab- 
sence of canine teeth and the development of the incisors to 
so great a degree that they resemble chisels and are used by 
the animal for the purpose of cutting wood and other hard 
substances, from which is derived their name — Rodentia or 
gnawers. Representatives of this order are found all over the 
world. North America having a large proportion of the whole 
number of species. During the winter a number of small 
cages are set in the wings of this building, which in warm 
weather are scattered around the grounds, the occupants of 
these belong mostly to this order ; among them are generally 
the Golden Agouti {Dasyprocta aguti') ; the Olive Agouti 
or Acouchy {Dasyprocta acouchy) from South America and 
the West Indies; the Paca or Spotted Cavy {Ccelogenys paca^^ 
and Fournier’s Capromys {Capromys pilorides). 
The African Porcupine {Hystrix cristata), the Javah 
Porcupine {Hystrix javanica), the White-haired Porcupine 
{Erethizon dorsatus), and the Yellow-haired Porcupine 
{Erethizon dorsatus var. epixanthus') — the two last from North 
America — are all quiet, retiring Rodents, living on roots and 
vegetables or the bark of trees. The spines which take, in 
part, the place of hair in the Porcupine, are loosely rooted in 
the skin and readily come off in the mouths of such anim.als 
