228 MAMMALS. 



(3.) Myrmecophaga. (Map 60-) The Ant-eaters occupy the whole of South America cast of 

 the Andes, aud nortli of La Plata, wherever there is wood, liurmeistcr did not find them in La Plata, 

 although they are said to be found in the wooded northern parts of that country. 



The females of these animals appear to be more frequently met with than the males. Schombui'ck 

 mentions that he several times j)rocured females of the Ant-bear and never males, ai.d says: "If 

 it could be substantiated that the nimiber of males is considerably smaller than that of the 

 females, in that circumstance woidd rest an additional ground for supposing that the extinction of 

 its species like those of the Edentata in general is determined upon."* It is to be hoijcd not; for in 

 our own race the number of males is smaller than that of the females, and we shoidd be sorry to 

 imagine that on that account an edict for our extinction had gone forth. 



' "Auu. ofNat. Hiat."iv. 200. 1840. 



