CHAPTER XII 

 THE ORDER OF DIGGERS 



EFFOUIENTTA 



This Order contains only a very small number of genera and species, all of which are confined 

 to the Old World. They are the pangolins of Africa and the Far East, and the aard-varks of 

 Africa. Until very recently, these animals have been classed with the ant-eaters, sloths and arma- 

 dillos, in the Order Edentata, or toothless mammals. But both in internal and external anat- 

 omy they differ widely from their very distant American relatives. 



The latest and most exact classification assigns them to a new and wholly independent Order, 

 called Ef-fo-di-en'-tia, which means "Diggers." Its divisions are as below: 



EXAMPLES 



ORDER 

 EFFODIENTIA. 



Pangolins, 



"1- 



Aard-Vakks, 



MAN'1-DAE, 



O-RYC-TE-RQ-POD'I-DAE, 



Manis, or Pangolin, of India. 

 Manis pentadactyla. 



Aard-Vark, of South Africa. 

 Orycteropus offer. 



THE PANGOLIN FAMILY. 



Manidac. 



One good look at a pangolin, or manis, is 

 enough to arouse curiosity, and provoke inquiry. 

 Like the armadillo, it is one of the wonders of 

 the living world, — absolutely toothless, dwelling 

 upon the earth, surrounded by savage and merci- 

 less enemies, but safe in the protection of a com- 

 plete suit of plate armor, and powerful claws for 

 digging. There are about seven species in this 

 Family, scattered all the way from China and 

 Borneo to South Africa, excepting the break in 

 the chain caused by the deserts of North Africa 

 'and Arabia. Of the three African species, two 

 are distinguished by the extreme length of their 

 tails, and one by its great size, six feet in length, 

 which entitles it to the name Giant Pangolin. 



The Indian Pangolin, or Manis, 1 of Ceylon 

 and India, generally in the lowland forests, may 

 be chosen as the representative of this Family. 

 My first feeling toward it is that of friendship 

 and gratitude, for in the jungles of Ceylon a 

 living specimen once furnished me entertainment, 

 anxiety and sustenance. 



My first Manis w r as brought by a native, who 

 carried it in a bag over thirty-five hot and dusty 

 1 Man'is pent-a-dnc'ty-la. 



miles. While in transit on man-back, the ani- 

 mal kept himself comfortably coiled, but when 

 set free upon the ground he promptly uncoiled 



AN INDIAN PANCiOLIN, ROLLED UP. 



and stood up for inspection. He was 36 inches 

 long, including the tail, which measured 17 

 inches, and his weight was 18 pounds. 



From the tip of his nose to the end of his tail, 

 he was covered with broad, flattened shield- 

 shaped plates, or scales, of clear, gray horn. 2 



2 Museum specimens are usually of a yellowish- 

 brown color. 



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