236 THE PANGOLIN AND PHATAG1N. 



parts, except the under part of the head and neck, under the 

 shoulders, the breast, the belly, and the inner side of the legs ; 

 all which parts are covered with a smooth, soft skin, without 

 hair. * Between the shells of this animal, at all the interstices, 

 are seen hairs like bristles, brown at the extremity, and yel- 

 low towards the root. The scales of this extraordinary crea- 

 ture are of different sizes and different forms, and stuck upon 

 the body somewhat like the leaves of an artichoke. The 

 largest are found near the tail, which is covered with them 

 like the rest of the body. These are above three inches 

 broad, and about two inches long 1 , thick in the middle and 

 sharp at the edges, and terminated in a roundish point. 

 They are extremely hard, and their substance resembles that 

 of horn. They are convexed on the outside, and a little con- 

 cave on the inner ; one edge sticks in the skin, while the 

 other laps over that immediately behind it. Those that cover 

 the tail, conform to the shape of that part, being of a dusky 

 brown color, and so hard, when the animal has acquired its 

 full growth, as to turn a musket-ball. 



Thus armed, this animal fears nothing from the efforts of 

 all other creatures, except man. The instant it perceives the 

 approach of an enemy, it rolls itself up like the hedge-hog, 

 and presents no part, but the cutting edges of its scales to the 

 assailant. Its long tail, which, at first view, might be thought 

 easily separable, still serves more to increase the animal's 

 security. This is lapped round the rest of the body, and, be- 

 ing defended with shells even more cutting than any other 

 part, the creature continues in perfect security. Its shells are 

 so large, so thick, and so pointed, that they repel every ani- 

 mal of prey ; they make a coat of armor that wounds while 

 it resists, and at once protects and threatens. The most 

 cruel, the most famished quadruped of the forest, the tiger, 

 the panther, and the hyaena, make vain attempts to force 

 it. They tread upon, they roll it about, but all to no pur- 

 pose ; the Pangolin remains safe within, while its invader 

 almost always feels the reward of its rashness. The fox often 

 destroys the hedge-hog by pressing it with his weight, and 



