226 Manis Crassicaudata. [No. 123. 



in which the tongue, when within the mouth, is folded up. But a great 

 part of the basal portion, as before observed, appears to slide into itself, 

 or into the outer skin of the tongue, and probably lies along under 

 and in front of the oesophagus. 



The process of skinning the animal for preservation was extremely- 

 toilsome and difficult, on account of the scales being deeply imbedded 

 in the skin, which is indented throughout by them, the hollows so 

 formed being filled up by the dorsal muscles. All the muscles and ten- 

 dons are of great toughness, the flesh having a harsh and coarsely fibrous 

 appearance. The pectoral muscles and those of the forearm and neck 

 (platysma myoides) are of prodigious volume, and the latter covered 

 with masses of fat, which I at first took for large conglomerate glands. 



The bones are short, thick, and with reference to other animals dis- 

 proportionably powerful. The dorsal and caudal vertebrae perfectly im- 

 mense, ribs 13 pair, of which the last 5 pair false. The stout, solid 

 sternum has its ensiform process elongated almost to the centre of the 

 abdomen, or beginning of the umbilical region, that is, to where the 

 umbilical region generally is, for in this animal I suspect the navel is 

 quite close to the genitals. This ensiform process is in shape like a 

 young plantain leaf, and has a thin pair of muscles spreading along 

 each side of the centre or stalk. The skull is long and narrow, and 

 apparently without sutures. The zygomatic arch small, lower jaw 

 very weak; nasal bones much elongated, and suddenly truncated at 

 the muzzle. The brain very small in volume. I was unable, from want 

 of time, to examine with sufficient attention whether the animal pos- 

 sesses clavicles or not ; my impression however is, that they are 

 wanting. 



Remarks. — The Manis is the rarest quadruped, I imagine, in India, 

 owing perhaps as much to its habits as to want of numbers. During 

 six years' residence in and near the forests of Singbhoom, I have only 

 seen two living specimens. It is, however, not confined in locality, 

 being known throughout Central India, where in the upper provinces 

 it is called " Bajjerkeet." In Orissa and Bengal " Bajra Kapta" and 

 " Sooruj Mookhee," and in the old Shunskrit still applied to many 

 words further south, on the Peninsula, in the Madras presidency, " Vajra 

 Keeta." By the Lurka Koles it is called " Armoo," and in the islands 

 of the Eastern Archipelago, " Pangoe-ling." " It has been described also 



