96 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



in a separate family immediately preceding the last-named beasts, 

 and coming between them and the Ant-Eaters. Instead of being 

 armoured with bony plates, the Pangolin bears upon its body over- 

 lapping scales, which can best be compared to tiles upon the roof 

 of a house, and in this way we are reminded of the large over- 

 lapping scales borne by some kinds of Fishes, the Carp and the 

 Rudd being two common British fresh-water species that occur 

 as apt examples. 



The present animal is not known outside Africa and Asia, but 

 in the New World it is distantly represented by the Ant-Eaters. 

 The Pangolin resembles the latter in its mode of walking, namely, 

 by doubling under the forepart of the foot so as to protect the 

 formidable claws which are used for digging, and, like the Ant- 

 Eater, it has a long tongue which is admirably suited for procuring 

 Ants as food, and it does not possess any teeth. 



In many ways this is a remarkable creature, and is quite unlike 

 any other living animal. It resembles, in some features, as has 

 been shown, the Ant-Eater and the Armadillo, but although 

 belonging to the same order of Edentates is relegated to a distinct 

 family. The broad horny scales are found not only upon the 

 back, but these characteristic structures are borne also on the long, 

 broad tail and the outsides of the limbs. These scales are deep- 

 ochre in colour. There are no external ears, as in the case of the 

 Armadillo and the Ant-Eater, and, as Mr. Protheroe points out, 

 "were it not for the scanty hairs that are found on the under- 

 surface, these creatures might reasonably be taken for some curious 

 sort of Lizard rather than for beasts of any kind." 



The scales have acute edges, and when the Pangolin resorts 

 to the device of rolling his body into a ball, the protection is 

 complete. So invulnerable is the armoured coat that an instance 

 is recorded of the Phatagin — a West African species — having shots 

 fired at it with a revolver which failed to make the slightest impres- 

 sion. The beast was knocked over, but rolled itself into a ball. 

 Thereupon a second shot was lired, but this time the shot "recoiled 

 upon the firer and bruised him. Eventually he dispatched the 

 animal by inserting a dagger between the scales and driving it home 

 with a mallet." This, to say the least, seems to me a repulsive 

 method of meting out death to one of the lower animals, and some 

 more humane way would better commend itself, but it is only fair 

 to state that the reason the beast had to be killed was because its 



