MANIS. 219 



The Short-tailed Manis (Manis brachyura, Erxl.). 



This species is a native of India, and is very common 

 in the Dukhun, living on termite ants. The specimen 

 before us measures about four feet in total length. A 

 second Indian species is from Java ; it is the Manis 

 Javanica of Desmarest. A third species has recently 

 been discovered by Mr. Hodgson in Nepal. 



The Long-tailed Manis 



{Manis Joiigicaudata, Geoffrey). 

 This is the best known of the African species, and 

 attains to a large size, measuring about two feet in the 

 length of the body, and about three feet in the length of 

 the tail. 



Temminck's Manis (^Manis Temminckii, Smuts). 



The present pangolin is a native of South Africa. 

 Mr. Bennett observes that the most remarkable features 

 of this animal are the shortness of the head, the breadth 

 of the body, and the breadth of the tail, which is nearly 

 equal to that of the body, and continues throughout the 

 greater part of its extent of nearly the same width, taper- 

 ing only slightly towards the end, where it is rounded 

 and almost truncate. (Fig. 143.) Mr. Bennett further 

 remarks that a peculiarity in the distribution of the scales 

 of Manis Temminckii is the cessation of the middle 

 series of them at a short distance anterior to the ex- 

 tremity of the tail, so that the last four transverse rows 

 consist of four scales each, each of the preceding rows 

 having five. (' Zool. Proc.,' 1834.) 



Habits, Food, ^r. — Dr. Smith relates that, when. 

 Manis Temminckii is discovered, it never attempts to 

 escape, but instantly rolls itself up into a globular form, 

 taking especial care of its head, which is the only part 

 that is easily injured. Ants constitute its chief and 

 favourite food, and these it secures by extending its pro- 

 jectile tongue into holes which may exist in the habi- 

 tations of these insects or which it may itself form ; and 

 when, by means of the glutinous matter with which its 

 tongue is covered, a full load has been received, a sudden 



