306 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



in the absence of the dark spot round the eye. This was 

 drawn also from a stuffed specimen, and is subject to the 

 same observations as to the position of all the feet as that 

 last mentioned. 



It is clear from the several specimens already described, 

 either that the Tamandua is considerably subject to vary 

 beyond what has been already noticed, or that there are 

 several cognate species. 



The Little Ant-eater is not more than seven or eight 

 inches long, with a prehensile tail rather longer than the 

 body. It has but two nails on the fore feet, one of which 

 is very large ; the hind feet have four; the fur is woolly, 

 of a uniform brownish-yellow; darker or approaching a 

 red tint along the dorsal line. 



This little species resides continually in the trees, where 

 it attacks ants and insects, which retire under the bark. 

 It suspends itself to the branches by means of its prehen- 

 sile tail, and of the paws, the naked parts of which are 

 constructed for seizing and holding with the same relative 

 force as in the Maned Ant-eater. Its loco-motion is slow 

 and silent. The female brings but one young at a time, 

 which is concealed in a bed of leaves in the cleft of some 

 tree. 



The Genus Manis, by the internal organization of its 

 limited species, approximates the Ant-eaters, but the ex- 

 ternal characters of the two are widely different. They 

 have the body elongated, the muzzle pointed, the tail thick 

 at its base, more or less long, and tapering to a point at 

 the end. All the upper parts are covered with strong, 

 horny scales : these are triangular, trenchant, and imbri- 

 cated, which gives the animals the appearance at first sight 

 of reptiles. 



Their elongated muzzle is terminated by a little mouth 

 which is perfectly destitute of teeth of all sorts ; the tongue 



A 



