Ileane Cooper, age 10, of Allentown, Penna., for her question:

Where is the coati found?

The coati is a southern cousin of the raccoon. Both these charmers belong entirely to the New World. Our Mr. Specs tresspasses on coati territory way down as far as Paraguay. But the coati is rarely seen north of the Rio Grande.

Both animals era about the same size, though our Mr. Specs usually carries a little more weight. He is also a good dual more handsome than his southern cousin. His banded tail is bushier than the coati's banded tail. His face is prettier, though both cousins have the same sweat puzzled expression.

The coati wears a Mardi Gras mask over his eyes, but his mask is paler than the mask of the raccoon. His face looks sharper because of its long thin nose. He has a very sassy walk and unlike the raccoon is always around in the daytime. Mr. Coati struts along with tail held aloft like a banner while pokinhis nose into nests, burrows, hollow trees and every nook and crany he can find. In fact, his nose is so nosey that its scientific name is Nasua which means the Nose.