quills proceed ; these are about the size of a small 

 pea, each answering to as many holes as appear oa 

 the outward surface of the skin, and which are about 

 half an inch deep, like as many hollow pipes, wherein 

 the quills are (ixed, as in so many sheaths. 



This animal partakes much of the nature of the 

 hedge-hop; ; having this formidable apparatus rather 

 to defend itself, than annoy the enemy. Indeed many 

 have supposed that it was capable of discharging at 

 its foes, its quills. But, it is now well known that 

 its quills remain fixed in the skin, and are then only 

 shed, when the animal moults. .them* as birds do their 

 feathers. 



The Pangolin, a native of the torrid climates of the 

 ancient continent is, of all animals, the best pro* 

 tected from external injury. It is three or four feet 

 long, or taking in the tail c from six to eight. It has 

 a small head, a very Jong nose, a short thick neck, a 

 long body, legs very short, and a tail extraordinary 

 long. It has no teeth, but is armed with five toes 

 on each foot, with long \vhite claws. Bat what it 

 is chieily distinguished by, is its scaly covering. These 

 scales defend the animal on a!l parts, except the 

 under part of the head and neck, under the shoul- 

 ders, the breast, the belly, and the inner side of the 

 li'gs ; all which parts are covered with a smooth, soft 

 skin, without hair. The scales of this extraordinary 

 creature are of different sizes, arid ditfcrent forms, and 

 stuck upon the body somewhat like the leaves of 

 a?i artichoke. The largest are near the tail, which 

 i-j covtred with them like the rest of the body. These 

 arc above three inches broad, and about* two inches 

 long ; thick in the middle, and sharp at the edges. 

 They are extremely hard, like horn. They are con- 

 vex on the outside, and a little concave on the inner, 

 one edge sticks in the skin, while the other laps over 

 that immcd Intel y behind it. Those that cover the 

 tail are so hard, when the animal has acquired its full 

 growth, as to turn a nuisquet-ball* 

 i 



