2o8 * EDENTATA 



The Indian species is said to live in pairs, and to give birth to 

 one or two young at a time in the spring. Their burrow reaches a 

 depth of some twelve feet, and terminates in a large chamber, which 

 may be as much as six feet in diameter. A faint hiss appears to be 

 the only sound emitted by these animals. 



Remains of a large species of Manis, which are indistinguishable 

 from the corresponding bones of the existing West African M. 

 giganiea, are found fossil in cave-deposits in the Karnul district of 

 Madras. This is one among several instances of the close connection 

 between the Pleistocene and Pliocene mammalian fauna of India Avith 

 the existing African fauna. 



Palceomanis. 1 — The lower Pliocene deposits of the Isle of 

 Samos, in the Turkish Archipelago, have yielded remains of a 

 Pangolin fully three times the dimensions of M. gigantea, upon the 

 evidence of which the genus Palceomanis has been established. 



Family Orycteropodid.e 



External surface scantily covered with bristle-like hairs. Teeth 

 numerous, apparently heterodont, diphyodont, and of peculiar and 

 complex structure, being traversed by a number of parallel vertical 

 pulp-canals. Lumbar vertebrae with no accessory zygapophyses. 

 Femur with a third trochanter. Fore feet without pollex, but all 

 the other digits well developed, Avith strong moderate-sized nails, 

 suited to digging, the plantar surfaces of which rest on the ground 

 in walking. Hind feet with five subequal toes. Mouth elongated 

 and tubular. Tongue subvermiform. Uterus bicornuate. Placenta 

 broadly zonular. Feeding on animal substances. Terrestrial and 

 fossorial in habits. Now mainly limited to the Ethiopian region. 



OrycterojM*. 2 — The total number of permanent teeth appears to 

 be from eight to ten in each side of the upper, and eight in the 

 lower jaw; but they are never all in place at one time, as the 

 small anterior teeth are shed before the series is completed behind. 

 In the adult they number usually five on each side above and beloAv, 

 of which the first two are simple and compressed, the next two 

 larger and longitudinally grooved at the sides, the most posterior 

 simple and cylindrical. The last three in either jaw having no 

 milk -predecessors, may be regarded as true molars. The structure 

 of all these teeth is quite peculiar among mammals, though 

 resembling that of some fishes. Their summits are rounded before 

 they are worn ; their bases do not taper to a root, but are evenly 

 truncated and continually growing. Each tooth is made Tip of an 

 aggregation of parallel dental systems, having a slender pulp-cavity 



1 Forsyth-Major, Comptes /,'< ndus, vol. cvii. p. 1180 (188S). 

 - Geoffroy, Dicaih- PHlosopMque, 1795 {teste Agassiz). 



