220 QUADRUPEDS COVERED 



even closer than those of fishes ; the scales of the 

 pangolin are only fixed at one end, and capable 

 of being erected, like those of the porcupine, at 

 the will of the animal. The lizard is a defence- 

 less creature ; the pangolin can roll itself into a 

 ball, like the hedgehog, and presents the points 

 of its scales to the enemy, which effectually de- 

 fend it. 



The pangolin, which is a native of the torrid 

 climates of the ancient continent, is of all other 

 animals the best protected from external injury 

 by nature. It is about three or four feet long, 

 or, taking in the tail, from six to eight. Like 

 the lizard, it has a small head, a very long nose, 

 a short thick neck, a long body, legs very short, 

 and a tail extremely long, thick at the insertion, 

 and terminating in a point. It has no teeth, but 

 is armed with five toes on each foot, with long 

 white claws. But what it is chiefly distinguished 

 by is its scaly covering, which in some measure 

 hides all the proportions of its body. These 

 scales defend the animal on all 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 yellow towards the root. The scales of this 

 extraordinary creature are of different sizes and 

 different forms, and stuck upon the body some- 

 what like the leaves of an artichoke. The largest 

 are found near the tail, which is covered with 



