MAMMALIA. 405 



Group 2. Edentata proper. 



This group is characterized by a pointed snout, some of the species still 

 possessing cheek teeth. It may be conveniently divided into four fami- 

 lies, the Manidcc, the Mi/rmecophagidcB, the Ori/cteropodidce, ^nd the 

 DasypodidcB. 



Fam. I. Manid^. a small family very nearly allied to Myrmecophagidae, 

 differing only from it in having the body covered with scales instead of 

 hairs. The habits are the same ; they are ant-eaters, and therefore myrme- 

 cophagous. This family is confined to the eastern continent, Asia and 

 Africa, and to it must be referred the only remains of Edentata found in 

 Europe, a fact of no small interest, as respects the geographical distribution 

 of animals. 



The genus Manis, or pangolins, has an elongated head, a slender snout, 

 with a small mouth, and a long, filiform, protractile tongue ; five compressed 

 and slightly curved claws on each foot. The tail is more or less elongated, 

 and protected, as well as the body and head, by tile shaped scales. These 

 animals live in the tropical regions of Africa and southern Asia, where 

 they feed like ant-eaters. In some the tail is longer, and in others shorter 

 than the body ; the fore feet are covered exteriorly with scales ; the internal 

 nail is nearly equal to the external. Other species have a tail much longer 

 than the body itself, the fore feet hairy, and only covered with scales at 

 their base and exteriorly, but the nails all compressed. Manis pentadacty la, 

 three or four feet in length, from East India {pi. 112, Jig. 3), is very abun- 

 dant at Madras, Pondichery, and Bengal. Tho long-tailed pangolin {M. 

 tetradactyla), of the same size as the preceding, is from Senegal, Guinea, 

 &c. The tail is double the length of the body. 



The genus Macrotlip.rium lived towards the end of the tertiary epoch, in 

 the centre of the old continent, in France and Germany. The nails are 

 like those of the pangolins, but the teeth most resemble those of the sloths. 

 A single species is known, the M. giganteum, the gigantic pangolin. 



Fam. 2. Myrmecophagid.e, is characterized by the absence of teeth of 

 any description ; the body covered with hairs. This family is restrictea 

 to one single genus, comprehending several species, confined to South 

 America. None have hitherto been found in a fossil state, but we may look 

 for some yet unknown genera to fill up the present gaps in the series. 



The genus Myrmecophaga, or ant-eater, is characterized by a long, thin, 

 and slender muzzle, at the termination of which is a small mouth, provided 

 with a long, filiform, protractile tongue. This they insinuate into ant hills, 

 and the nests of the termites, whence these insects are withdrawn by being 

 entangled in the viscid saliva that covers it. The claws or nails of the 

 fore feet are strong, curved, and compressed, varying according to the 

 species ; the body covered with hair ; the tail elongated, and prehensile in 

 two of the species. The fore limbs are a little shorter than the hinder, the 

 humerus short and very stout ; hind feet smaller and more slender than the 



ICONOGRAPHIC ENCYCLOPEDIA. VOL. II. 39 609 



