16 LECTURE IIL 



measures about a foot or fifteen inches in lengtb, 

 and is of a thick and strong form, with very short 

 limbs, and a narrow tubular snout. It aifords a 

 striking instance of one of those collateral affinities 

 which we had before occasion to advert to; by 

 which animals of different tribes have a kind of 

 connexion with each other ; in the present in- 

 stance, we see an affinity between the genus 

 Myrmecophaga in the order Bruta, and the Por- 

 cupine, which belongs to a widely different tribe 

 of animals, and ranks in an order called Glires. 

 The Aculeated or Porcupine Ant-Eater, is of a 

 black or very dark brown colour on the limbs and 

 lower parts, while the spines or quills are of a 

 yellowish Mdiite, with black tips. On the fore-feet 

 are five very strong claws, and on the hind four ; 

 the tail is excessively short, and beset with large 

 upright quills. In its mode of life this animal 

 resembles the rest of the Ant-Eaters. It is ge- 

 nerally found in the midst of some large ant-hill. 

 It burrows with great strength and celerity under 

 ground, when disturbed, and it is said that it will 

 even burrow under a very strong pavement, re- 

 moving the stones with its claws : during such 

 exertions, its body is observed to be stretched or 



