The Sloths, Ant-eaters, and Armadillos 



341 



Photo by York tfc Son] [Hotting Sill. 



WEASEL-HEADED ARMADILLO. 



The weasel-headed armadillos have from six to eight movable bands in 

 the bony armour in which they are encased. 



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Photo by L. Midland, F.Z.S.] \_No-,-th Finchley. 



HAIRY-BUMPED ARMADILLO. 



This species, like the Peba Armadillo, varies its diet with 

 carrion. 



THE PANGOLINS. 



The PANGOLINS, or SCALY ANT-EATERS, are perhaps even more curious creatures than the 

 armadillos. They have been likened in appearance to animated spruce fir-cones, to which indeed 

 they bear a strange resemblance. This resemblance is due to the wonderful armature of the 

 skin, which takes the form of large overlapping, pointed, horny plates or scales. The pangolins 

 are confined to the Old World, occurring in South Africa and South-eastern Asia. Like the 

 American Ant-eaters, teeth are wanting, and the tongue is long and worm-like, being employed 

 in the capture of insects, as in the New World ant-eaters. 



The scales of the MANIS are formed by the fusion together of fine hairs. Like the spines 

 of the hedgehog and porcupine, they serve the purpose of offensive defence ; for when the 

 manis rolls itself up, these pointed scales project at right angles to the body, and offer a 

 formidable resistance to any enemy whatsoever. They also serve to break the force of a fall, 

 which, indeed, is often voluntary; for should the animal wish to descend from the branch of 

 a tree, it will often take a short cut to the ground by deliberately dropping, the force of the 

 fall being entirely broken by the elastic scales. 



In climbing, the tail is of the greatest service, its under-surface being clothed with 

 pointed scales, which serve as so many climbing-hooks. The grasp of a tree-trunk gained by 

 the hind legs and tail is so secure that the body can be moved to a horizontal position with 

 ease. In a specimen kept in captivity by Mr. Fraser, this horizontal movement was a form 

 of exercise which appeared to afford the greatest pleasure. 



'j 



Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S.] [North Finchley. 



PEBA ARMADILLO. 



This species lives largely upon carrion, which it buries in its burrow 

 till wanted. 



Photo by York <fc Son] 



KAPPLERS' ARMADILLO. 



This is a variety of the Peba Armadillo, inhabiting 

 Surinam. 



