104 SUBKINGDOM VEKTEBBATA. 



ORDER EDENTATA. 



General Characteristics. — The Edentates (toothless) 

 are related only negatively by being destitute of incisors. 

 Different members of the order being herbivorous, insectivor- 

 ous, carnivorous, as well as omnivorous, no tabulation is 

 given. 



Myrmecophagidse. — The Giant Ant-eater of South 

 America has toothless jaws a foot long. It can open its 



Fig. 17U. 



Mt/iirwcophuga jubdta. Giant Ant-eater. 



mouth, however, only far enough to thrust forth its long, 

 worm-like tongue.* This is covered by a viscid saliva, and 

 can be darted hither and thither with lightning-like rapidity. 

 With its fore feet, armed with powerful nails, it tears open an 

 ant-hill, Avhen the bewildered inmates rush out, and, stick- 

 ing to its tongue, are rapidly swept into its mouth. When 

 sleeping, it wraps itself in its large, bushy tail, presenting 

 the appearance of a heap of dried grass, and thus escapes the 

 notice of its enemies. Attacked, it rises, bear-like, upon its 

 hind feet and clasps its enemy, its strong claws being a match 

 for the Jaguar. It is, however, quite inoffensive, and rarely 

 uses its great strength, even in its own defence. 



* Though the animal ia only four or five feet long, it is said that the thread-like 

 tongue can Ije thrust out to a distance of two feet and as often as twice per 

 second. 



