EDENTATA. * 529 



The Tamanoir, or Great Ant-Bear (Myrmecophaya *jubata), does not 

 possess this faculty ; it is upwards of four feet long ; its tail is fur- 

 nished with long hairs, directed vertically both above and below. 

 It is said that it can defend itself against the Jaguar. It is a 

 native of Brazil and Guiana. It might seem almost incredible that 

 so robust and powerful an animal can procure sufficient sustenance 

 from Ants alone ; but it is not surprising to persons acquainted with 

 the tropical parts of America, and who have seen the enormous 

 multitude of these animals, that swarm in all parts of the country 

 to such a degree, that their hills almost touch one another for miles 

 together. The favourite resorts of the Great Ant-eaters are the 

 low swampy savannahs along the banks of rivers and stagnant 

 waters. 



The Scaly Ant-eaters ( Manis t) differ from the preceding by 

 having their body, limbs, and tail covered with thick scales, disposed 



to 



FIG. 456. MAMS. 



like the tiles of a house, these they raise, by rolling themselves 

 up into a ball, to defend themselves against an enemy. 



The Cape Ant-eaters (Orycteropm J) have long been confounded 

 with the Ant-eaters, because they live on the same kind of food, 



* (j.vpfj.71%, nvp/LLtiKos, rnurmex, murmekos, an ant ; fyayciv, phagein, 

 to eat ant-eater. 



f Probably from manus, a hand, on account of the large fore-claws, 

 which are employed in tearing down the nests of the Termites or 

 White-ants. 



| opvKTys, oryctes> a digger ; TTOVS, pous, a foot. 



O A 



