THE PANGOLINS 189 



tures, as he does the scales of other mammals, such as those upon 

 the tail of Anomalurus, etc. This, however, is not a universal 

 opinion. It is true that these scales occur chiefly in the lower 

 forms of mammals such as those under consideration, Marsupials, 

 Rodents, and Insectivores ; but the fact that the hairs are developed 

 before the scales shows, or seems to show, that the former are the 

 older structures, and to lead to the inference that the scales of 

 mammals are new structures. The scattered hairs of the Pangolin 

 have no sebaceous glands excepting on the snout. This, again, 

 looks as if they were degenerate structures, and emphasises the non- 

 archaic character of the scales. These animals have no trace of 

 teeth except possibly some slight epithelial thickenings which have 

 been interpreted as a last remnant ; the tongue is suited for the 

 capture of ants, and is therefore much like that of the not nearly- 

 related American Anteaters. The stomach is of simple form ; 

 it is characterised by a large gland, which suggests that of the 

 Koala (see p. 144); the intestine has no caecum. Eetia mirabilia 

 occur on the limb arteries. The placenta is non-deciduate and 

 diffuse ; it is specially compared by Weber with that of the Horse. 

 Considering the many adaptive resemblances between this genus 

 and the American Anteaters, especially in the mouth cavity, it is 

 remarkable that in Manis the pterygoids are not joined as they 

 are in Myrmecophaga. In spite of statements to the contrary, 

 it appears that there is sometimes a distinct lachrymal. 



A remarkable feature in the skeleton of Manis is the 

 singular sternum. The xiphoid cartilage is extraordinarily 

 elongated into thin strips, which reach the pelvis and return. 

 This state of affairs is to be found in the African species only. 

 This structure is not comparable, as it has been said to be, with 

 abdominal ribs such as those of the reptile Hatteria. 



These animals are mainly anteaters. The Japanese have a 

 curious legend as to the method adopted for the capture of ants, 

 which is related by Dr. Jentink in his monograph of the genus. 

 The Manis " erects his scales and feigns to be dead ; the ants 

 creep between the erected scales, after which the anteater again 

 closes its scales and enters the water ; he now again erects the 

 scales, the ants are set floating, and are then swallowed by the 

 anteaters " ! The same story is related by Mr. Stanley Flower 

 on the authority of the Malays. 



Though it seems clear that the likenesses which Manis shows 





