MANJD.-E 205 



secreting follicles, the duets of which terminate in ;i common 

 orifice. No civcum. A gall-bladder. Head small, depressed, 

 narrow, pointed in front, with a very small mouth -opening. 

 Eyes and pinna of ear very small. Body elongated, narrow. 

 Tail more or less elongated, convex above, flat underneath. The 

 whole of the upper surface of the head, the upper surface and sides 

 of the body, the whole of the tail, and the outer sides of the ex- 

 tremities covered with large, overlapping, horny scales, but usually 

 with a few stifi' hairs growing between and projecting beyond 

 them. The sides and under surface of the head, the under surface 

 of the body, and the inner sides of the limbs without scales, but with 

 a rather scanty covering of hair. Limbs short. In walking the 

 dorsal surface and outer sides of the phalanges of the two outer 

 digits of the front feet alone rest on the ground, the points of the 

 nails turning upwards and inwards. The third toe the longest, 

 with a powerful compressed curved claw; the second and fourth 

 with similar but smaller claws, that of the pollex often almost 

 rudimentary. Hind feet plantigrade, with the hallux very short, 

 and the four other toes subequal, with moderate, curved, subcom- 

 pressed nails. 



The reproductive organs of Munis are of a totally different 

 type from those of the families already noticed. The testes lie 

 in the inguinal canal ; and the penis is external and well developed. 

 The uterus is tndy bicornuate, the vagina not divided, and the 

 placenta diffused and non-deciduate. All the organs and fcetal 

 membranes are, indeed, formed very much on the plan of those 

 of the Ungulates, Avithout any trace of the special peculiarities 

 obtaining in the typical American Edentates. 



The animals of this genus, which includes all the existing forms, 

 are called Pangolins or Scaly Anteaters, and are all of small or 

 moderate size, terrestial and burrowing, and feed mainly on termites. 

 Several of them can climb trees. Their length varies from 1 to 5 

 feet. They can roll themselves up in a ball when in danger. Their 

 peculiar elongated form, short limbs, long, gradually-tapering tail, 

 and scaly covering give them on a superficial inspection more the 

 appearance of reptiles than of mammals. The species are not 

 numerous, and may be divided into two groups distinguished by a 

 few not very important external characters ; these groups also coin- 

 ciding with the present geographical distribution of the genus. 

 These two groups, according to Mr. 0. Thomas, may be distinguished 

 as follows. 



The Asiatic pangolins are characterised by having the central 

 series of body-scales continued quite to the extreme end of the tail, 

 by having many isolated hairs growing up between the scales of the 

 back, and by their small external ears. They all have a small 

 naked spot beneath the tip of the tail, which is said to be of service 



