EDENTATA. 299 



attached to the body on the spine, and the hinder 

 parts protected in a truncated shape, with the tail 

 secured beneath the body. This little animal was 

 discovered in Chili. 



The Anteaters, Myrmecophagidce. We include 

 in this family the African genus and the American, 

 although the former still possesses a few cheek 

 teeth: both have lengthened and pointed heads, 

 extensile tongues, and feed on ants. 



Genus ORYCTEROPUS, with flat nails, or claws for 

 digging ; their cheek teeth possess the unique struc- 

 ture of being cones, pierced vertically by numerous 

 pores like those of a cane reed. 



Oryc. Capensis. Cape Anteater. Aardtvarken 

 of the Dutch. In size larger than a badger, bulky, 

 long, low, with a small head and prolonged snout ; 

 tail less than the body ; colour pale-brownish grey : 

 burrows. The next genus is totally without teeth. 



Genus MYRMECOPHAGA. The Anteaters Proper. 

 Hard-skinned, hairy, lengthened animals, with 

 tapering long head and snout, small mouth, ex- 

 tensile tongue, for the purpose of protruding into 

 ants' nests and termite hills, to draw out the insects ; 

 the anterior claws long, powerful, and cutting, to 

 tear open their retreats, and to serve for defence ; 

 the anterior paws usually bent inwards, having a 

 callosity on the outer part of the wrist, upon which 

 their weight presses in walking. All the species 

 belong to tropical America. The smaller have pre- 

 hensile tails, and all bearing only one young, are 

 in the habit of placing it on their own backs. 



