386 THE GREAT ANT-EATER. 



sharp claws at the enemy, principally with the right foot, whilst 

 the left rests on the ground ; but if the danger increases, she 

 throws herself upon her back, and in that position defends 

 herself by striking with both claws of the fore-feet, which 

 possess such force that they are well able to rip open the belly 

 of an assailant. Even the jaguar finds it difficult to conquer 

 an ant-eater, and often both combatants kill one another on the 

 spot. 



The flesh of the ant-eater is eaten by the native population, 

 and considered a great delicacy. 





THE PANGOLIN.* 



(Manis pentadactyla, Linn. ; M. brachyura, Erxl.; 

 M. crassicaudata, Geoff.) 



The pangolin inhabits the East Indies. 



Its body, limbs, and tail, are protected by large sharp-edged 

 scales, over-lapping one another. The mouth is destitute of 



* Captain Brown, with his usual indifference to the most important, because 

 the least entertaining, points in animal biography, not only confuses the present 

 animal with the Manis tetradactyla, but says it is " a native of Guiana.'' 

 Sketches of Quadrupeds, (Glasgow, 1831, p. 435). The fact is, however, that 

 neither species inhabit America. 



