CLASS MAMMALIA. 



185 



FIG. 316. 



.. 

 Myrmecoph'a ga jub&'ta. Giant Ant-eater. 



jaws a foot long. It can open its mouth, however, only 



far enough to thrust forth its long, worm-like tongue. 



With its fore feet, armed 



with powerful nails, it tears 



open an ant-hill, when the 



bewildered inmates rush 



out, and, sticking to its 



tongue, viscid with saliva, 



are rapidly swept into its 



mouth. When sleeping, it 



wraps itself in its large, 



bushy tail, and thus mim- 

 ics a heap of dried grass, 



to escape the notice of its enemies. Attacked, it rises 



upon its hind feet, and clasps its enemy, its strong claws 



being a match for the Jag- 

 uar (jag a ar'). It is, how- 

 ever, quite inoffensive, and 

 rarely uses its great 

 strength except in defense. 

 The Long-tailed Pango- 

 lin (pan'go lin), found in 

 Asia and Africa, is re- 

 markable for its covering 

 of large, horny scales, re- 



Ha'nis longicau'aa. Long tailed Pangolin. gembling the tileg of & 



roof, which effectually shields it from the attacks of ants.* 

 It walks on its knuckles, with its toes turned inward. 



FIG. 317. 



* W. T. Hornaday says of a species lie found in Ceylon, and kept for some 

 days as a pet, that, if alarmed, "he immediately tucked his head down between 

 his fore legs, brought his tail under his body and up over his head, and held it 

 there, forming of himself a flattened ball, completely covered with scales. Unable 

 of myself to uncoil him, I called to my aid two of my assistants, but the tail 

 stuck to the body as if it had been riveted there, and after wrestling with it till 



