THE COAITI-M ONDI, OR RED COAITL 
385 
more addicted to eancricide than the animal which has just been described. In size it is larger 
than the common Racoon, and its color is not quite the same. 
The tail is short in proportion to the body, and is marked with six black rings npon a 
grayish or blackish -yellow ground. The fur of the body is rather variable in different individ- 
uals, but is generally composed of a blackish-gray washed with a tinge of yellow, the darker 
and the lighter tints predominating on different parts of the body and limbs. On the head, 
neck, and along the spine, the black tinge prevails, while the rest of the body and the sides of 
the neck are almost wholly of the yellowish -gray hue. A very dark brown patch encloses each 
eye, and, passing backwards almost to the ears, is merged into a dark spot on the crown of the 
head. The Racoon has been mentioned by several travellers under different names, such as 
Raton, Mapach, Agouarapope, Yllanraton, Maxile, Wasch-Bar, and Cioutlamacasque. 
The Racoon, an excellent figure of which is here given, is peculiar to the North American 
Continent. Its geographical range is very great, being found in every portion of North Amer- 
ica, as high as 60°. Paraguay is as far south as it has been observed. Its habits are nocturnal. 
Though it is carnivorous by nature, it prefers vegetable food at times, as is the case with the 
Black Bear. 
The Black-footed Racoon inhabits the Pacific coast from Puget’ s Sound to the Rio Grande 
in Texas. It is like the preceding in general appearance, but excels it in size. 
The Psora, or California Coon ( Procyon psora), was discovered on the Pacific coast just 
before the occupation of California by the United States. It is more dog-like in general 
appearance, standing higher, and having a slender tail. The Crab-eating Racoon is found in 
Central America and farther south. 
The animals which compose the curious genus that is known by the name of Narica, are 
easily recognized on account of the singular length of the nose, which is prolonged so as to 
form a miniature and mobile proboscis. In their general habits and diet they very strongly 
resemble the racoons, and are as admirable climbers of trees as can be found in the animal 
kingdom. 
The extraordinary snout with which the Coaitis are gifted is very useful to the possessor, 
being employed for the purpose of rooting in the ground in search of worms and insects, 
together with other important uses. When they drink, the Coaitis lap the water after the 
manner of dogs, and when so engaged, turn up their flexible snouts, so as to keep that useful 
member from being wetted more than is necessary. They are inhabitants of Southern America, 
and are found in small companies upon the trees among which they reside, and on the thin 
branches of which they find the greater part of their food. Two examples of the Coaitis will 
be briefly described. 
The Coaiti-moxdi, or Red Coaiti, derives its name from the reddish-chestnut hue which 
prevails over the greater portion of the fur, and is only broken by the black ears and legs, the 
maroon-colored bands upon the tail, and the white hairs which edge the upper jaw, and entirely 
cover the lower. The texture of the fur is rather harsh and wiry, and of no very great impor- 
tance in commerce. Upon the paws are certain curious tubercles, which alone would serve to 
identify the animal were it entirely destroyed with the exception of a single foot. It is 
extremely active in the ascent and descent of trees, and pursues its prey among the limbs with 
great certainty. Its food consists of sundry vegetable and animal substances, but the creature 
seems to prefer the latter to the former. 
When the Coaiti descends a tree, it does so with its head downward, securing itself from 
falling by hitching the claws of the hinder feet into the inequalities of the bark, and display- 
ing by the act no small amount of flexibility in the jointing of the hinder limbs. It is a noc- 
turnal animal, and does not display its true liveliness until the shades of evening begin to 
draw on, but lies curled up in a curious but comfortable attitude, its long and bushy tail serv- 
ing for blanket and pillow. Towards evening, however, the Coaiti arouses itself from its 
lethargy, and becomes full of life and vigor, careering about the branches with extraordinary 
rapidity of movement and certainty of hold, and agitating its mobile nose with unceasing 
energy, as if for the purpose of discovering by the snout the presence' of some welcome food, 
