THE PEXGOLIN. 337 



holding itself nearly erect to command a view of its object. The 

 strength of this appendage, which likewise serves to secure the 

 rolled-up animal in a powerful fold, will be perceived from the 

 accompanying illustration, which shows it to be equal in length 



The Pengolin. 



to all the rest of the body, whilst the vertebrae which compose it 

 are stronger by far than those of the back. 



A perfect forest-vagabond, the great ant-eater has no den to 

 retire to, nor any fixed abode ; but his immense bushy tail ren- 

 ders all other shelter unnecessary, as it is long enough to cover 

 his whole body. Serving him as a tent during the night, or as a 

 waterproof mantle against the heavy rains of the wet season, he 

 might boast, with still greater justice than Diogenes, of carrying 

 all he requires about him. The tail is very differently constructed 

 in the smaller American ant-eaters, who, leading an arboreal life, 

 seek their prey among the species of ants that build their nests 

 in the trees ; for, like that of the monkeys of their native forests, 

 it is long, short-haired, and prehensile. 



The skin of the mammalians is no less admirably adapted 

 to the peculiarities of their way of life than the various organs 

 we have hitherto noticed. Thus, in the armadillos, pengolins, 



z 



