NATURAL HISTORY. 



313 



Tlic tainanoir looks at a distance like a great fox, 

 and for that reason some travellers call him the Ame- 

 rican fox. lie is strong enough to defend himself a- 

 gainst a large dog, and even a jaguar. When he is 

 attacked he fights standing on his hind-legs, like the 

 bsar, and makes use of his fore-claws, which are mur- 

 doring weapons, for his protection. He then lies on 

 his hack to use his hind legs, and in this situation he 

 is almost invincible ; and even after he has put his 

 adversary to death, he keeps his hold a long time. 

 He is covered with long bushy hair, and a very thick 

 skin ; besides, his flesh is remarkably hard, and he 

 seldom loost-s his life in these engagements. 



The tamanoir, the tamandua, and the fourmiller, 

 are natives of the hottest climates only of America. 

 They are found in Brazil, in Guiana, and in the coun- 

 try cf the Amazons, &c. They do not breed in Canada, 

 nor in other frozen regions of the New World, and do 

 not belong consequently to the Ancient Contln.-nt. 



THE PANGOLIN, 



and PHA T.JGI.V, or the SHOR T $ LOXG-TAILED MAXIS. 



THESE animals are commonly known under the 

 name of scaly lizards ; but we think proper to reject 

 this dencmination ; 1. because it is a compound; 2. 



