page [14] (seq. 15)

14
1900
Feb. 21
to Mar. 10
(9)

with a coat of the purest, richest black.

Three specimens of the Coati-mundi
from southern North America south of the
United States are curious creatures. They are
about three feet long (tho these are smaller)
including a long tail striped like a
Coon's. They have short legs with sharp
claws, as I found out by putting my
hand too near, and a remarkably
long, flexible nose. They can raise the
snout, and even turn it back, as they
make it rigid when rooting for in-
sects in the ground. They are great
tree climbers, and run down a trunk
head foremost like a Nuthatch.

One cage contained a beautiful Sable
or Marten. He is an active fellow
and I saw him chasing round and
round after his tail, among the
branches of his perch. I heard one
lady say she would rather have him
in a tippet.

An albino Crow, contrasting strangely
with its black mate is a curiostiy.
I thought of my brother Ruthven whose
propensity for albinism is well known.

There is a cage of Possums and one
of Badgers but during every visit
the wretched creatures were curled up
and sound asleep, and when these animals