Vl THE PANGOLINS 189 
tures, as he does the scales of other maminals, such as those upon 
the tail of Anomalurus, etc. This, however, is not a universal 
opinion. It is true that these scales occur chiefly in the lower 
forms of mammals such as those under consideration, Marsupials, 
Rodents, and Insectivores ; but the fact that the hairs are developed 
before the scales shows, or seems to show, that the former are the 
older structures, and to lead to the inference that the scales of 
mammals are new structures. The scattered hairs of the Pangolin 
have no sebaceous glands excepting on the snout. This, again, 
looks as if they were degenerate structures, and emphasises the non- 
archaic character of the scales. These animals have no trace of 
teeth except possibly some slight epithelial thickenings which have 
been interpreted as a last remnant; the tongue is suited for the 
capture of ants, and is therefore much like that of the not nearly- 
related American Anteaters. The stomach is of simple form; 
it is characterised by a large gland, which suggests that of the 
Koala (see p. 144); the intestine has no caecum. Jetia mirabilia 
occur on the limb arteries. The placenta is non-deciduate and 
diffuse ; it is specially compared by Weber with that of the Horse. 
Considering the many adaptive resemblances between this genus 
and the American Anteaters, especially in thé mouth cavity, it is 
remarkable that in Manis the pterygoids are not joined as they 
are in Myrmecophaga. In spite of statements to the contrary, 
it appears that there is sometimes a distinct lachrymal. 
A remarkable feature in the skeleton of Manis is the 
singular sternum. The xiphoid cartilage is extraordinarily 
elongated into thin strips, which reach the pelvis and return. 
This state of affairs is to be found in the African species only. 
This structure is not comparable, as it has been said to be, with 
abdominal ribs such as those of the reptile Hatteria. 
These animals are mainly anteaters. The Japanese have a 
curious legend as to the method adopted for the capture of ants, 
which is related by Dr. Jentink in his monograph of the genus. 
The Manis “erects his scales and feigns to be dead; the ants 
creep between the erected scales, after which the anteater again 
closes its scales and enters the water; he now again erects the 
scales, the ants are set floating, and are then swallowed by the 
anteaters”! The same story is related by Mr. Stanley Flower 
on the authority of the Malays. 
Though it seems clear that the lkenesses which Janis shows 
