304 PHASCOLOMYS, 



of the muzzle, a quarter of an inch distant from the 

 eyes is three-fourths of an inch ; its length, measuring 

 to the tip from the same part, is 1 inch and 7 lines ; 

 and the width near the point is 4^ lines. The skin 

 of this beak-like muzzle is thick and destitute of hair. 

 The opening of the mouth is remarkably small, and 

 when closed is in the form of a narrow slit extending 

 backwards from the tip of the nose, not more than 

 4 lines. The nostrils are situated very near the tip 

 of the muzzle. The tongue is slender and very long, 

 and the animal has the power of protruding it to a 

 considerable distance. Of teeth it has none. The 

 legs are very large and strong, and both hind and 

 fore- feet are provided with five short and stout toes; 

 the toes of the fore-feet are furnished with very large 

 and strong nails, that of the central toe, in the speci- 

 men before alluded to, is 1 inch in length, and 3^ 

 lines in width in the middle ; the toe on either side 

 of this has the nail rather smaller, and the nail of the 

 outer and inner toe is, compared with the others, 

 small, being about 4 or 5 lines only in length : these 

 nails are almost straight, solid, and rounded at the 

 tip. The inner toe of the hind-foot is very short and 

 thick, and furnished with a short, broad, and rounded 

 nail, and appears to be slightly opposable ; the toe 

 next the inner one is the largest, though still short 

 and strong, and is furnished with an enormously long 

 nail, 1 inch 4 lines in length ; this nail is slightly 

 curved, and appears, when viewed in front, to be 

 nearly cylindrical, but its under surface is concave. 

 The nail of the central toe resembles the last, but is 



