»5 2 



THE INDIAN FAUNA 



the foot of the Himalaya to Ceylon. This strange animal, whose allies inhabit 

 the Malay countries, China, and Africa, has a short plump body and stout tail, the 

 united length of which is 42 inches. The fore-feet are furnished with very long 



claws, the middle one of 

 . i.^^* which is double the length 



of the corresponding claw 

 on the hind-foot. The large 

 scales covering the head, 

 body, and tail, which distin- 

 guish the pangolins from all 

 other mammals, are arranged 

 in this species in from eleven 

 to thirteen rows along the 

 body, the middle row con- 

 taining from fourteen to 

 seventeen to the root of the 

 tail. These scales are about 

 double the width of those of 

 the two other Asiatic species 

 of pangolin, and are light 

 yellowish brown in colour, 

 the skin being pinkish white 

 on the scaleless parts. The 

 Indian pangolin is a noc- 

 turnal animal, hiding among 

 rocks or in its burrow dur- 

 ing the day, although it is 

 sometimes seen abroad shortly 

 after sunrise. The crooked 

 burrow extends to a depth 

 of 8 to 12 feet below the 

 ground to terminate in a 

 large chamber of about 6 

 feet in diameter. The aper- 

 ture is stopped with earth 

 when its owners are inside. 

 The food of pangolins consists 

 of ants and termites. To 

 obtain these, pangolins tear 

 up the nests with their long 

 claws, inserting their long sticky tongues into the passages and withdrawing 

 them when covered with the insects. The tongue also serves for drinking, 

 by being alternately protruded and drawn back in quick succession. It 

 is doubtful, however, whether pangolins drink at all when in the wild 

 state, as they frequently occur in places far from any water. Like 

 many birds, they swallow small stones to aid in the digestion of their food. 



SLENDER LORIS. 



