Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/737

COAHOMA COAITI 725 plates were 203, and the sub-caudal scales 109 pairs. It sometimes attains the length of 7 ft. It moves with great swiftness, and feeds on young birds and small animals ; though inof- fensive to man, it defends itself bravely, twi- ning its long folds around its enemy. This spe- cies is rare, and appears to be confined to South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. In its general form, in the scales, and in the plates on the head, it somewhat resembles the black snake. It receives its popular name, not from the small size of the body and tail, but from the imbricated disposition of the caudal scales. COAIIOMA, a N. W. county of Mississippi, separated from Arkansas by the Mississippi river; area, 750 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 7,144, of whom 5,381 were colored. The surface is low and level, and the western part is fre- quently inundated by the Mississippi. The Sunflower river flows through it, and Cold Water river through the N". part. The soil is generally good. The chief productions in 1870 were 151,985 bushels of Indian corn and 11,456 bales of cotton. There were 507 horses, 939 mules and asses, 1,184 milch cows, 2,688 other cattle, and 5,066 swine. Capital, Friar's Point. COAHUILA, or Cohahnila, a state of Mexico, between lat. 24 17' and 29 43' K, and Ion. 100 and 103 30' W., bounded N. and N. E. by Texas, from which it is separated by the Eio Grande, E. by Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, S. by Zacatecas, and W. by Durango and Chi- huahua ; area, 58,920 sq. m. ; pop. in 1869, about 96,000. The surface is rough, being intersected by several ranges of mountains which traverse it from N. W. to S. E. The only plain of any extent is in the W. part, and is called the Bol- son (sack) de Mapimi, from the peculiar man- ner in which it is enclosed, having no open- ing excepting on the north. Several tribes of savage Indians overrun this plain, to the serious detriment of the farmers and miners. Villages and farms once prosperous have been abandoned in many instances by their inhab- itants, as the only means of escaping their ferocity. A large part of the remainder of the state consists of rough mountainous coun- try, and desert plains without wood or water; but there is much good grazing land, and except for the insecurity consequent upon the proximity of the savages, cattle might be ex- tensively raised. In the Bolson de Mapimi are Lakes Mapimi or Caiman and Parras. The river Mapimi flows into the former, and the Eio Grande del Parras into the latter; both are small streams. The Salada, Sabinas, Toya, and Meteros, all affluents of the Rio Grande, are in- considerable. Silver mines exist in the moun- tains, but few are worked on account of the lack of sufficient capital and hands, and the dep- redations of the Indians. The land adapted for tillage is limited, but when quietly possessed is well cultivated and yields abundantly. The chief cereals are maize, wheat, and barley. In the S. part the maguey (agave Americana) is cultivated in large plantations. Parras and its vicinity are famous for their vineyards and the excellent quality of their wine. Brandy of high repute is also manufactured in consider- able quantities. There are some large land- holders in Coahuila, who would be very wealthy could their property be protected, but who are comparatively poor in the insecure condition of the country. The wines and liquors already mentioned, with coarse cloths and pottery, form the only manufactures ; and the exports consist of wines, wheat and other grains, mules, horses, buffalo tongues, ox hides, deer skins and horns, wool, silver, iron, copper, amian- thus, sulphur, and other minerals. Saltillo in the southeast, on the river Tigre, is the capital. Seven miles S. is the site of the battle of Buena Vista. (See BFENA VISTA.) The other prin- cipal towns are Monclova or Coahuila, Santa Eosa, and Parras. COAITI, a South American mammal, formerly placed among the viverridce, but now consider- ed as coming near the raccoon, which it resem- bles in general appearance, habits, and diet. There are two species, the red and the brown, both remarkable for the great length and mo- bility of the snout ; they live among the branches of trees, being very expert climbers, where they feed upon birds, and their young and eggs, on Coaiti-mondi (Nasua rufa). insects, and sometimes on vegetable substances. The red coaiti (nasua rufa) is of a general reddish chestnut color, with black ears and legs, maroon-colored bands on the tail, and white hairs on the edge of the upper jaw ; the fur is harsh, and of little use; the paws are provided with peculiar tubercles, which give it firm foothold on the branches. It is a noctur- nal animal, hiding by day ; it may be tamed, though its temper is very capricious ; the feet are 5-toed, with sharp claws. This species is often called " coaiti-mondi." It is smaller and more weasel-like than the raccoon. The brown coaiti, or quaschi (N. narica), is of a browner color, with the lower parts and inside of limbs tinged with yellowish gray. It is a lively and amusing animal, easily tamed, and useful as a destroyer of rats and mice in the