THE PANGOLIN. 383 



Distinctions between the pangolin and lizard. 



nature, creatures, taken from some other ele- 

 ment, and capriciously thrown to find a precari- 

 ous subsistence upon land." 



Some naturalists have, perhaps rather injudi- 

 ciously, confounded the pangolin with the scaly 

 lizard; a circumstance which Buffon justly ob- 

 serves, might be productive of great error, and 

 occasion its being confounded with an animal 

 which it resembles only in its general form, and 

 being covered with scales. 



The following obvious distinction may be made 

 between the pangolin and the lizard : the latter 

 is a reptile produced from an egg, and com- 

 pletely covered with scales; while the former is 

 destitute of any such marks, either on the neck, 

 breast, or belly. The lizard's scales, adhere to 

 the body closer than even those of fishes, while 

 those of the pangolin, are only fixed at one end, 

 and capable of being erected at pleasure, like the 

 quills of the porcupine. The pangolin, also, in- 

 stead of being a defenceless creature, like the 

 lizard, rolls itself up like the hedgehog, and pre- 

 sents the points of its scales, so as effectually to 

 annoy the most dangerous enemy. 



Including the tail, which is nearly equal to 

 the body in length, this animal measures from 

 six to ei;ht feet. The head is small, the nose 

 very long and taper, and the neck short, thick, 

 and strong; the legs are short, and the feet fur- 

 nished with five toes, each armed with long 

 white claws. The jaws are destitute of teeth, and 



