CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 59 



provided with webs. It lives near the lakes about Botany- 

 Bay, New Holland. 



§ 228. The Duck-bill lives continually in the water, 

 dives very well, feeds probably on worms, and defends 

 itself by wounding and poisoning with the spurs found on 

 its hind-feet ; thus producing considerable inflammation, 

 even in man. 



§ 229. The Scaly Lizard (Manis tetra-dactyla) is about 

 three feet long, of a brown color, entirely toothless, and 

 covered with hard, moveable scales, which can be elevated 

 and depressed at pleasure, like the bristles of the porcu- 

 pine. 



§ 230. The Scaly Lizard is an inhabitant of East India : 

 it defends itself by erecting its large, hard, and poignant 

 scales, and rolling itself up like a ball, in which position 

 the tiger and panther endeavor in vain to devour it. 



§ 231. The Scaly Lizard feeds altogether on ants. Its 

 flesh is eaten by some inhabitants of India. 



5 232. The Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is of 

 the size of a cat, toothless, and covered with yellow, solid, 

 long crusts, which are united on the back by several 

 moveable long bands, by means of which it is able to roll 

 itself up into a ball, when attacked. 



\ 233. The Armadillo is found in all parts of South 

 America, where it lives in holes, under ground, and feeds 

 principally on ants. The flesh of this animal is very 

 delicate. 



\ 234. Ant-eaters, Scaly Lizards, and Armadilloes are a 

 great blessing to tropical countries, where they devour 

 myriads of different kinds of ants, termites, and wood-lice, 

 which reduce, in a short time, to mere dust, not only the 

 trees of large forests, but whole dwelling-houses, with all 

 their furniture. 



QUESTIONS ON SECT. XI. 



§ 216. What are the toothless Mammalia? 



§ 217. Describe the Three-toed Sloth. 



| 218. Why can Sloths not walk fast ? 



§ 219. What are their peculiarities? 



§ 220. On what account are they singular? 



§ 221. How manv young do theV produce at a time? 



§ 222. Describe the Two-toed Sloth. 



