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MYRMECOPHAGA. ANT-EATER. 



Generic Character. 



Denies nulli. 



Lingua teres, extensil. 



Os angustatum in rostrum. 



Corpus pilis tectum. 



Teeth, none. 



Tongue cylindric, extensile. 



Mouth lengthened into a 



somewhat tubular form. 

 Body covered with hair. 



HE animals of this genus live entirely on in- 

 sects, more particularly on the various kinds of 

 Ants; in order to obtain which, they extend their 

 tongue, which is of a very great length, and of a 

 roundish or worm-like form, into the nests of 

 those insects, and when, by means of the viscid 

 moisture with which it is covered, a sufficient 

 number are secured, they retract it suddenly into 

 the mouth and swallow them. A part of the ge- 

 neric character of the Myrmecophaga is the total 

 want of teeth, in which particularity it resembles 

 no other animals except those of the genus Manis, 

 in which the same circumstance takes place. 

 There are, however, in the Ant-Eaters according 

 to the observations of Mons. Broussonet, certain 

 bones or processes not unlike teeth, situated deep 



