336 THE KINK A JO U, OB POTTO . 
It is a merciless robber of birds’ nests, and will eat parent, eggs, or young with equal 
appetite. 
Although possessed of a very irritable temper, the Coaiti is tamed without difficulty to a 
certain extent, but is always capricious in its affections, and cannot be trusted without danger. 
When attacked by men or dogs, the Coaiti fights desperately, and can inflict such dangerous 
wounds with its double-edged canine teeth, that it is, although so small an animal, no despi- 
cable antagonist. 
The singular creature which is known under the title of Kixkajou, or Potto, has been 
the means of perplexing systematic naturalists in their laudable attempts to place each animal 
in its proper position. 
On account of its external aspect and 
its general habits, it has been considered as 
one of the Lemurine family, and was termed 
in consequence the Yellow Macauco, or the 
Yellow Lemur (Lemur flames). As, how- 
ever, the structure of its teeth and limbs 
is entirely different from that of the lemurs, 
and very closely approaches the carnivorous 
type, it has been placed among the flesh- 
eating animals, under the name of Mexican 
Weasel ( Vimrra caudwolmda). But the 
flat surfaces of its under teeth, and its curi- 
ously prehensile tail, ore characteristics of 
sufficient importance to remove it from the 
pure carnivora, and place it among the ani- 
mals which are capable of eating both ani- 
mal and vegetable food, so that it lias at 
present found a resting-place at the end of 
the ursine animals. 
It is an inhabitant of Southern Amer- 
ica, and is spread over a very large extent 
of country, so that it is known in different 
places under different appellations, such 
as Honey Bear, Manaviri, or Guchnm'bi. 
When full grown, the Kinkajou is equal to 
a large cat in size, but is very much stronger 
in proportion to the dimensions of its body. 
The color of the animal is a very light dun, 
obscurely traversed by narrow darker bands, that run over the back towards the ribs, and 
partly follow their course. Another darker band is observable round the neck, but all these 
marks are so very indistinct, that they can only be seen in a favorable light. 
The most remarkable point in this animal is the extreme length and flexibility of the 
tongue, which the creature is able to protrude to a marvellous extent, and which it can insin- 
uate into the smallest crevices in search of the insects which have taken shelter therein. It is 
said that the animal employs its long tongue for the purpose of thrusting that organ into the 
bee-cells, and licking out the sweet contents of the waxen treasury. With its tongue it can 
perform many of the offices of an elephant’s trunk, and will frequently seize and draw towards 
its mouth the articles of food which may be beyond the reach of its lips. It has also been seen 
to use its tail for the same purpose. 
Assisted by its prehensile tail, the Kinkajou is an admirable and fearless climber, possess- 
ing the capability of suspending its body by the hinder feet and the tail, and remaining in this 
inverted attitude for a considerable space of time. 
It is eminently nocturnal in its habits, being sadly distressed by the effect of daylight 
KINKAJOU, OR POTTO Cercolep'ts cauaivoLvuluo. 
