212 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



141. — Taraandua. 



with the tamanoir, but the bones of the muzzle are 

 shorter than the cranial portion, instead of being twice 

 as long : hence the whole head is more abbreviated : 

 the snout is also more conical, and presents a less tubular 

 appearance. Independently, however, of this difference, 

 the tamandua is easily distinguished from its congener. 

 It is far inferior in size, and its tail, instead of being fur- 

 nished with full flowing hair, is a long, taper, thinly- 

 covered organ of prehension, nearly naked indeed at the 

 tip, though well covered at the base. The fur of the 

 body is thick, dense, and harsh, and on the hinder 

 quarters of tolerable length, but on the head and fore- 

 quarters it is short, wiry, upright, and glossy, and radiates 

 from an areola between the shoulders ; the point of the 

 muzzle is bare ; the eyes are small ; the ears of a mode- 

 rate size and rounded ; the mouth is small, and the nostrils 

 are lateral slits. (Fig. 141.) 



In the structure of the limbs it closely resembles its 

 larger congener. The tamandua when fully grown 

 measures about two feet in the length of the head and 

 body, and sixteen or seventeen inches in that of the tail. 



