LECTURE III. 71 



thin, semitransparent epidermis or skin, beneath 

 which the bony crust itself is white. When the 

 Armadillos are attacked by other animals, they 

 roll themselves up into the form of a ball, by con- 

 tracting their body and limbs, and are thus secured 

 from all common violence ; affording one of^ the 

 most beautiful and striking instances of the bene- 

 volent care which Nature has taken in the pro- 

 tection of animals of a weak and inoffensive 

 nature. 



The genus Manis or Pangolin, is distinguished 

 by an appearance so far removed from that of the 

 generality of viviparous quadrupeds, that, at first 

 view, it rather suggests the idea of an animal of 

 the Lizard tribe; and hence these quadrupeds 

 have been often called by the improper title of 

 Scaly Lizards. The mouth is lengthened into the 

 form of a tubular snout, without any teeth, and 

 the tongue is very long, round, and capable of 

 being extended at pleasure, to a great length, and 

 instead of hair, the animal is coated on all parts, 

 except on the belly, by extremely strong and 

 large scales, composing a suit of armour, capable 

 of defending the creature, when rolled up, from the 

 assaults of the most ferocious enemies. The Pan- 



