MAMMALIA— MANIS. 275 



retractile powar which enables animals of the feline species to preserve the 

 sharpness of their claws on the most flinty path. A slight inspection of the 

 fore feet of the ant-bear will easily convince you of the mistakes that artists 

 and naturalists have fallen into ; for you will perceive that the whole outer 

 side of his foot is not only deprived of hair, but is hard and callous ; proof 

 positive of its being in perpetual contact with the ground. On the contrary, 

 the innar side of the bottom of his foot is soft and rather hairy. 



" There is another singularity in the anatomy of the ant-bear. He has 

 two very large glands situated below the roof of the tongue. From these is 

 emitted a glutinous liquid, with which his long tongue is lubricated when 

 he puts it into the ants' nests. These glands are of the same substance as 

 those found in the lower jaw of the woodpecker. The secretion from them, 

 when wet, is very clammy and adhesive; but on being dried, it loses those 

 qualities, and you can pulverize it betwixt your finger and thumb ; so that 

 in dissection, if any of it has got upon the fur of the animal, allow it to dry 

 there, and then it may be removed, without leaving any stain behind. The 

 ant-bear is a pacific animal. As his habits and haunts differ materially 

 from those of any other animal in the forest, he might live to a good old 

 age, and die in peace at last, were it not that his flesh is good food. On 

 this account the Indian wages perpetual war with him, and as he cannot 

 escape by flight, he falls an easy prey to the poisoned arrow. If he be ever 

 closely attacked by a dog, he throws himself on his back, and if he can 

 catch hold of his enemy with his tremendous claws, the invader is sure to 

 pay for his rashness with the loss of life." 



THE PANGOLIN* AND PHATAGIN;2 OR, THE 

 SHORT AND LONG-TAILED MANIS. 



These animals are commonly known under the name of scaly lizards ; 

 but they are not only of another genus, but even of another class than the 

 lizards, which are oviparous reptiles, while the pangolin and the phatagin 

 are viviparous quadrupeds. 



1 Manis crassicaudata, Geoff. 



2 Mavis longicaudata, Geoff. The genus Manis is entirely toothless ; the body is 

 elongated, covered with strong, corneous, triangular, and imbricated scales, and capable 

 of rolling into a ball; muzzle long; tongue protractile; feet with five toes, formed for 

 digging ; tail long. 



