MAMMALIA—MANIS. 275 
retractile power which enables animals of the feline species to preserve the 
sharpness of their claws on the most flinty path. A slight inspection of the 
fore feet of the ant-bear will easily convince you of the mistakes that artists 
and naturalists have fallen into; for you will perceive that the whole outer 
side of his foot is not only deprived of hair, but is hard and callous; proof 
positive of its being in perpetual contact with the ground. On the contrary 
the inner side of the bottom of his foot is soft and rather hairy. 
“There is another singularity in the anatomy of the ant-bear. He has 
twe very large glands situated below the roof of the tongue. From these is 
emitted a glutinous liquid, with which his long tongue is lubricated when 
Le puts it into the ants’ nests. These glands are of the same substance as 
those found in the lower jaw of the woodpecker. The secretion from them, 
when wet, is very clammy and adhesive; but on being dried, it loses those 
qualities, and you can pulverize it betwixt your finger and thumb; so that 
in dissection, if any of it has got upon the fur of the animal, allow it to dry 
there, and then it may be removed, without leaving any stain behind. The 
ant-bear isa pacific animal. As his habits and haunts differ materially 
from those of any other animal in the forest, he might live to a good old 
age, and die in peace at last, were it not that his flesh is good food. On 
this account the Indian wages perpetual war with him, and as he cannot 
escape by flight, he falls an easy prey to the poisoned arrow. If he be ever 
closely attacked by a dog, he throws himself on his back, and if he can 
catch hold of his enemy with his tremendous claws, the invader is sure to 
pay for his rashness with the loss of life.” 
THE PANGOLIN! AND PHATAGIN;* OR, THE 
SHORT AND LONG-TALD Dew ANTS. 
THESE animals are commonly known under the name of scaly lizards; 
but they are not only of another genus, but even of another class than the 
lizards, which are oviparous reptiles, while the pangolin and rhe phatagin 
are viviparous quadrupeds. 
1 Manis crassicaudata, GEOFF. 
2 Manis longicaudata, Georr. The genus Manis is entirely toothless; the body is 
elongated, covered with strong, corneous, triangular, and imbricated scales, and capable 
of rolling into a ball; muzzle long; tongue protractile ; feet with five toes, formed for 
digging ; tail long. 
