238 THE PANGOLIN AND PHATAGIN. 



these noxious insects, therefore, that its only force or cunning 

 is exerted ; and were the negroes but sufficiently sensible of 

 its utility in destroying one of the greatest pests to their coun- 

 try, they would not be so eager to kill it. But it is the nature 

 of savage men to pursue the immediate good, without being 

 solicitous about the more distant benefit they remove. They, 

 therefore, hunt this animal with the utmost avidity for its 

 flesh ; and as it is slow and unable to escape in an open place, 

 they seldom fail of destroying it. However, it chie-fly keeps 

 in the most obscure parts of the forest, and digs itself a retreat 

 in the cliffs of rocks, where it brings forth its young, so that 

 it is but rarely met with, and continues a solitary species, and 

 an extraordinary instance of the varying of nature. 



Of this animal, there is a variety which is called the 

 PHATAGIN, much less than the former, being not above a foot 

 long from the head to the tail, with shells differently formed, 

 with its belly, breast, and throat covered with hair, instead of 

 a smooth skin, as in the former ; but that by which it is 

 peculiarly distinguished, is the extent of its tail, which is 

 above twice the length of its body. Both are found in the 

 warm latitudes of the east, as well as in Africa ; and, as their 

 numbers are but few, it is to be supposed their fecundity is 

 not great. 



