14 
with the coatis and raccoons than with the Viverridce, 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 ( Ursns tibeianus) belong to a group of the 
Ursidce 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 (Calogenys paca), 
and Fournier’s Capromys ( Capromyspi borides). 
The African Porcupine (. Hystrix cristata ), the Javan 
Porcupine ( Hystrix javanica ), the White-haired Porcupine 
(. Erethizon dorsatus ), and the Yellow-haired Porcupine 
(.Erethizon dorsatus 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 
