THE PANGOLIN. 387 



teeth, but has a very extensible tongue ; the legs are short ; 

 and the toes, five on each foot, are provided with curved claws. 



Ants are the chief food of the pangolin, and it captures them 

 in the manner of the ant-eater (see page 385) $ and, indeed, 

 the general shape, anatomy, and habits of the present animal, 

 clearly show that it is merely a modified ant-eater, differing 

 principally in its kind of clothing a matter of but secondary 

 account in all philosophic classifications, though formerly con- 

 sidered sufficient to authorize the bringing together of animals 

 so dissimilar in habits and other respects, as the hedgehog and 

 the porcupine. The pangolin's coat of mail not only defies a 

 legion of angry ants, but protects it from the more vigorous 

 attacks of large animals. When in danger it rolls itself up like 

 a ball, and in that position, with its sharp scales elevated like 

 so many spear-heads, is prepared to receive those who have the 

 temerity to molest it. Nemo me impune lacessit is the motto on 

 its coat of arms. 



2 c 



