MANIDA 207 
its body, with lines of thinner cuticle between. Under the micro- 
scope, sections of these thicker tracts show that they are composed 
of fine hairs, cemented together by a copious growth of epidermic 
cells; here and there larger hairs are seen, but these fail to reach 
the surface, turning again towards the inside, like nails driven into 
wood that is too hard for their points.” 
The same author also observes! that there are occasional in- 
stances of the presence of eight cervical vertebre in the Pangolins 
—a feature which has been considered to indicate some former 
genetic connection between this family and the Sloths.. 
The following account of the habits of Manis tricuspis is given by 
Mr. L. Fraser in his Zoologia Typica -— 
“During my short residence at Fernando Po I succeeded in 
procuring two living specimens of this animal. The individuals, 
judging from the bones, were evidently not adult; the largest 
measured 30 inches in length, of which the head and body were 
12 inches and the tail 18 inches. I kept them alive for about a 
week at Fernando Po, and allowed them the range of a room, where 
they fed upon a small black ant, which is very abundant and trouble- 
some in the houses and elsewhere. Even when first procured they 
displayed little or no fear, but continued to climb about the room 
without noticing my occasional entrance. They would climb up 
the somewhat roughly-hewn square posts which supported the 
building with great facility, and upon reaching the ceiling would 
return head foremost; sometimes they would roll themselves up 
into a ball and throw themselves down, and apparently without 
experiencing any inconvenience from the fall, which was in a 
measure broken upon reaching the ground by the semi-yielding 
scales, which were thrown into an erect position by the curve of 
the body of the animal. In climbing, the tail, with its strongly 
pointed scales beneath, was used to assist the feet; and the grasp 
of the hind feet, assisted by the tail, was so powerful that the 
animal would throw the body back (when on the post) into a 
horizontal position, and sway itself to and fro, apparently taking 
pleasure in this kind of exercise. It always slept with the body 
rolled up; and when in this position in a corner of the building, 
owing to the position and strength of the scales, and the power of 
the limbs combined, I found it impossible to remove the animal 
against its will, the points of the scales being inserted into every 
little notch and hollow of the surrounding objects. The eyes are 
very dark hazel, and very prominent. The colonial name for this 
species of Afanis is ‘Attadillo,” and it is called by the Boobies, 
the natives of the island, ‘Gahlah.’ The flesh is said to be 
excedingly good eating, and is-in great request among the 
natives.” 
1 Mammalian Descent, p. 99. 
