EDENTATA. 95 



and not trenchant. The structure of their teeth differs from that of all other 

 quadrupeds ; they are solid cylinders traversed like reeds, in a longitudinal 

 direction, with an infinitude of little canals. There is only one species known. 



Oryct. Capensis. (The Cape Ground Hog.) It is an animal about the size 

 of the badger, or larger ; stands low ; has short hair, and is of a brownish grey. 

 The tail is not so long as the body, and is covered with equally short hairs. 

 It has four toes before, and five behind. Inhabits burrows, which it excavates 

 with great facility. The flesh is eaten. 



The other ordinary Edentata have no grinders, and consequently no teeth of 

 any description. They also form two genera. 



MYRMECOPHAGA, Linnceus. 



The Ant-eaters are hairy animals with a long muzzle terminated by a' 

 smooth toothless mouth, from which is protruded 

 a filiform tongue susceptible of considerable elon- 

 gation, and which they insinuate into ant-hills and 

 the nests of the Termites, whence these insects are 

 drawn by being entangled in the viscid saliva 



that covers it. The nails of the fore feet, strong and trenchant, and varying 



in number according to the species, serve to tear up the nests of the Termites, 



and afford the means of defence. 



They all inhabit the hot and temperate parts of the western continent, 



and produce but a single young one at a birth, which they carry on their 



back. 



MANIS, Linnaeus. 



The Pangolins, or Scaly Ant-Eaters, as they are called, are destitute 

 of teeth, have a very extensile tongue, and live on 

 ants and termites like true ant-eaters ; but their body, 

 limbs, and tail are clothed with large trenchant scales 

 arranged like tiles, which they elevate in rolling themselves into a ball, when 

 they wish to defend themselves from an enemy. There are five toes to each 

 foot. Their stomach is slightly divided in the middle, and there is no caecum. 

 They are confined to the eastern continent. 



The third tribe of the Edentata comprehends those animals, designated by 

 M. Geoffroy, under the name of 



MONOTREMATA. 



The singularities of their skeleton are very remarkable : a sort of clavicle, 

 which is common to both shoulders, being placed before the ordinary clavicle, 

 and analogous to the fourchette in birds. Finally, besides their five nails to 

 each foot, the males have a spur on the hinder ones, perforated by a canal 

 which transmits the liquid secreted by a gland situated on the inner surface 

 of the thigh. It is asserted that the wounds it inflicts are envenomed. These 

 animals have no external conch to their ears, and their eyes are very small. 



