1842.] Manis Crassicaudata. 227 



in our books of Natural History, under the name of Phattagen, and 

 Manis." The Manis Crassicaudatus and M. Pentadactylus, (Auctorum,) 

 are I suppose one and the same. 



Habits, SfC. — In Singbhoom the Armoo lives principally in the neigh- 

 bourhood of rocks, from whence it rarely wanders. The specimen from 

 which the present details were taken was captured on a pretty high hill. 

 Of its manners very little is known, as the animal is strictly nocturnal, 

 and its retreats, in the fissures of rocks, are so impenetrable, that I 

 have never heard of the young being seen or taken. In Shaw's Zoology, 

 in Geoffroy's Cuvier, and in other works, the Manis is represented upon 

 a branch of a tree; but I very much doubt whether it possesses the 

 power of climbing, although its fore claws are not unsuited to the pur- 

 pose. Its food also, which consists of large black ants, is found as much 

 upon trees as on the ground ; but the weight and clumsiness of the 

 animal impeded by a stiff tail which scrapes along after it, is repugnant 

 to the idea, and of those people who have met with them in the jun- 

 gles, none ever mentioned seeing one on a tree. 



Quitting, however, doubts and conjectures, I shall content myself 

 with describing the manners of two specimens I had alive for some days 

 in my possession. One was brought to me in 1838. It had been 

 captured by some Koles at dawn of day, on the ground, in a patch of 

 low jungle or bush ; being unable to progress beyond a slow trot, or 

 to bury itself fast enough in the ground, it was easily taken. The 

 animal has no means of offence ; when handled or even approached 

 it rolls itself into a ball, tucking its nose (the only part about which it 

 appears solicitous) under its belly, folding in its legs, and wrapping the 

 tail round all. When brought to me and laid on the ground, it re- 

 mained for some time in this position, but at length cautiously unrolled 

 itself, looking about and sniffing the air in all directions. The slightest 

 noise, or knocking and scraping on the ground near it, would make it 

 instantly resume its former position, from which the united strength 

 of two men could not unwind it. If, however, left unmolested, it 

 would after a little reconnoitring thrust forth, first one leg, and then 

 the other, and so, starting to its feet, commence perambulating the 

 apartment. In walking it stepped upon its knuckles, or more strictly 

 upon the roots of its fore claws, which were bent closely inwards to the 

 leg, the tail pressed to the ground. Its gait was slow and cautious, 



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