i8 
The ichneumons are fierce and blood-thirsty little ani¬ 
mals, and a number of the common Indian species were im¬ 
ported a few years ago into the island of Jamaica, to rid the 
colony of the enormous numbers of rats which infested the 
plantations of sugar cane. The experiment seems to have 
been successful, as the animals have become fully acclimated, 
but in addition to the rats they have exterminated numbers 
of the native birds as well. 
The coati will be readily recognized by its long, pointed 
snout. The two best known species are the White-nosed 
Coati (JVasua narica ) and the Ring-tailed Coati (AT. rufa ), 
THE BINTURONG. 
which range from Mexico through Central into South Amer¬ 
ica; a pair of the first-named species, now in the collection, 
were taken near Laredo, Texas. These animals are allied by 
many points of structure to the bears and raccoons, and have 
been placed in the same family as the latter. 
The Kinkajou Cercoleptes caudivolvulus ), an inhabitant 
of sub-tropical America, is a very pretty member of this 
group. It is of gentle disposition and makes an interesting pet. 
