580 



ZOOLOGY. 



maxillary glands are very large, so that the viscid salivary 

 fluid is very abundant. They burrow into ant-holes, thrust- 

 ing the tongue among the ants, which stick in multitudes to 

 the viscid, writhing rod, and are withdrawn into the mouth. 

 The pyloric end of the stomach is gizzard-like. The ant- 

 eaters (Myrmecophaga) inhabit South America. 



The pangolins, or species of Manis, are mail-clad ant- 

 eaters, the body and long tail being covered with large 

 overlapping scales. When molested they roll up the body. 

 In walking the hind feet rest on the soles, Avhile the fore- 

 feet are supported by the upper side of the long bent 

 claws. 



Fig. 501. Pangolin (Manis longicaudata) robbing white ant-nests. After Montciro. 



The long-tailed pangolin of the West Coast of Africa (Fig. 

 501) tears open with its long claws the nests of the white 

 ants. It is nearly f metre (28-30 inches) in length. 



The armadillos (Fig. 502) are small mammals covered with 

 a carapace, consisting of from three to thirteen transverse 

 rows of movable scales ; by rolling into a ball, these singu- 

 lar creatures become thoroughly protected from their ene- 

 mies. Dasypus novem-cinctus Linn, is much like the Peba 

 armadillo, and extends from South America to Texas. The 

 strange extinct armadillo-like Olyptodon of South Amer- 

 ica, which was over two metres (8 feet) long, was covered 



