These animals are found in every part of South America; but they have been very indistinctly described by travellers, and not only confounded with each other, but also placed with animals of a very distinct species. Hernandes has very clearly indicated three of these animals; the first he calls by its Mexican name _ysquiepatl_, and which is the same animal that Seba has given a figure of in his works, and is called _squash_ in New Spain. The second Hernandes also denominates by the same name, (_ysquiepatl_) and which in South America is called the _skink_. The third he styles _conepate_, and which has been mentioned by Catesby, under the appellation of the _American pole-cat_, and by M. Brisson, by that of the _striped pole-cat_. Besides those mentioned by Hernandes, there is a fourth kind of these animals called _zorille_, in Peru, and in some parts of the Spanish settlements in India. We are indebted to M. Aubry for the knowledge of the _squash_, the _skink_, and the _zorille_; the two last may be regarded as originals, as we do not meet with their figures in any other author. The first of these animals came to M. Aubry under the name of _pekan_, the _Devil's child_, or the _wild cat_ of Virginia. I perceived it was not the real pekan, but the same animal that Hernandes has described by the name of _ysquiepatl_, and which has been indicated by travellers by the name of _squash_, or _potot_. (_fig. 185._) It is about sixteen inches long; its legs are short, its muzzle rather pointed, its ears small, its hair of a deep brown, and its claws black and sharp. It chiefly dwells in the hollows and clefts of rocks, where it brings forth its young. It lives upon small animals, birds, &c. and often steals into a farm yard, where it kills the poultry, but eats only their brains. When it is pursued or offended, it calls up the most diabolical scents to its defence, and sends forth such a horrid stench, that it is dangerous for men or dogs to approach it. Its urine is apparently infected with this nauseous vapour, but which does not seem habitual to it. "I had one of these animals sent me from Surinam, (says Seba) which I kept alive in my garden during the summer; I fastened it with a small chain; it never attempted to injure any person; and when properly fed it might be managed like a little dog. It burrowed in the earth with its snout, assisted by its two fore-paws, the claws of which were long, and turned backwards: in the day-time it concealed itself in the hole it had dug; at night it came out, and after having cleaned itself it continued constantly running backwards and forwards, as far as its chain would permit. It only eat as much food as would satisfy its hunger; it never touched flesh nor bread, but seemed principally fond of caterpillars, spiders, worms, &c. One morning, towards the end of autumn, it was found dead, unquestionably from not being able to endure the cold. The hair along its back was of