-m 



Fauna : Mammals 



and contains forty-nine caudal vertebra;, the largest number, by 

 far, known amongst mammals. As it is rather difficult in theory 

 to regard this extravagant length ot the tail as characteristic of 

 the primitive mammalian stock (from which this manis, like 

 all other mammals, is descended), and as a feature which the 

 L.ong-tailed Manis alone has retained, it is necessary to sub- 

 scribe to the assumption that additional vertebrae ot the tail 

 can be formed in differentiation of species. It this be the case 

 with McJiiis longicaiidata^ it would apply to other mammalia, 

 and might dispose of several difficulties in classification, such 



295. THE LONG-TAILEIJ .MANIS (MAMS L( i.\(;I( 'AUDATA) 



as, for example, the origin of the domestic sheep from a 

 relatively short-tailed mouflon. 



The Long-tailed Manis is hairy on the under-parts, and 

 the hair is ot a dark brown or blackish grey, with a tendency 

 to a whitish line along the edge of the scaly armature. I'he 

 White-bellieci Manis (Af. irkuspis)^ whose specific name em- 

 phasises the three-cusped edges of its scales, is rather a pretty 

 little animal, a trifle more normal in aspect than its relations, 

 owing to the relatively larger size of its eyes and its under-coat 

 of soft hair, which is a yellowish white. 



The Man'idce^ from what we know of their geographical 



VOL. H 753 16 



