228 Manis Crassicaudata. [No. 123. 



and the animal frequently reared itself on its tail and hind legs, as if 

 to listen more attentively. In this posture it would remain either erect 

 or at any angle with the ground, and nothing could give a clearer 

 idea of the almost supernatural strength of the muscles of the back and 

 loins, than the perfect ease with which the position was assumed 

 and retained, a strength only equalled, in the animal world, by those 

 species of caterpillars, well known to Entomologists, which sustain 

 themselves for hours in attitudes which no other animal could endure 



for more than a few seconds. The annex- 

 ed diagram will give some idea of this 

 fact. The animal appears to be in an 

 unnatural position, out of balance, and 

 as if about to fall forward, but such is 

 not the case, and the attitude here 

 sketched is one I have often seen it assume, and sustain without the 

 slightest apparent effort. On one occasion, while stumping about the 

 room, the Manis passing under a heavy bookstand, containing four 

 large shelves filled with books, (a weight which I do not think two 

 stout men could have lifted off the ground,) tilted the whole 

 affair up, so as to cause a general rush to the spot, to avert the 

 threatened overthrow ! Being left to itself in a large room, but pre- 

 cluded from going out, it made several tours of the apartment, and at 

 length throwing itself on one side, commenced excavating into the 

 wall, which was of sun-dried bricks, and in about two minutes.had dug 

 out a hole large enough to cover itself. In doing this it disturbed a colony of 

 white ants, whose galleries ran along under the plaister, but I could not 

 perceive that it paid them the least attention. It being impossible to 

 chain the animal, as it suffered nothing to touch its head, I kept it 

 shut up in an empty beer-chest, the lid of which was rendered (as I 

 imagined) secure, by large stones heaped upon it, to the amount of 

 four or five maunds. In this manner I kept the animal about a week, 

 during which it got pretty tame, seldom rolling itself up when touched 

 or patted. It drank water freely at all hours of the day, lapping it 

 up with its long tongue, and seemed fond of lying in it ; but it 

 took no food of any kind. Earth-worms, larva of kinds, and white 

 ants were equally unnoticed ; yet the animal appeared in no way 

 weakened or suffering from hunger; and its weight, which was very 



