133 



3. Notes on the Scaly Ant-eater (Mams javanica), taken 



DURING LIFE AND AFTER DEATH. By ARTHUR AdAMS, 



F.L.S., Surgeon H.M.S. 'Actjeon.' 



A. During Life. 



Two living specimens of this singular mammal having come under 

 my observation, I am induced to offer some account of their habits 

 as far as I was enabled to make them out. 



Our first Ant-eater is a female, and rejoices in the sobriquet of 

 " Scales." She is crepuscular, and remains coiled up in a ball during 

 the day, secure in her scaly panoply ; but at the decline of day she 

 grows lively. Now a creature whose habits require to be studied by 

 the aid of a dark lantern must needs be interesting even to the most 

 incurious ; and a Lizard-like Mammal whose every movement and 

 attitude is probably a living illustration of those great extinct qua- 

 drupeds which once peopled the earth before man was created, must 

 certainly have the power of arresting the attention, if not of stimula- 

 ting the imagination. I doubt not Professor Owen would have lain 

 prone on his stomach all the livelong night to watch the evolutions 

 of this gnome-like mountaineer. And indeed there is something 

 old-world and weird in her aspect as she prowls about at night. The 

 Scotch would say she has an "uncanny" look ; and truly, if but ten 

 times bigger, she would unmistakeably remind one of the times before 

 the Deluge. When she walks she treads gingerly on the bent- 

 under claws of her fore feet, and more firmly on the palms of her 

 hind feet. A very favourite attitude with her is that assumed by 

 her gigantic extinct analogue the Mylodon, as seen in the wondrous 

 model of Waterhouse Hawkins in the Gardens of the Crystal Palace. 

 The fore feet in my " Madam Scales " are raised ; and the animal is 

 supported by the strong hind limbs, and firm, flattened, powerful mus- 

 cular tail, the head and body being at the same time moved from 

 side to side, and the little round prominent eyes peering curiously 

 about in every direction. In walking, the fourth toe of the hind 

 foot is also extended. The Chinese, in their sly manner, say that 

 she pretends to be very quiet; but "s'pose no man lookee," she 

 runs very fast. She is certainly of a very timid and retiring dispo- 

 sition, tucking in her head between her fore legs on the least alarm . 

 So apathetic a quadruped appeared our £C Pangolin" (for such is she 

 called by the Malays), that, coiled up in a strong net, I considered 

 her properly secured, and carefully deposited her in my cabin. But 

 no sooner did the last gleam of light vanish from my little " scuttle " 

 than she knew the period of her lethargy had expired, and, bursting 

 the trammels of her hempen toil, she roamed abroad ; and the first 

 intimation I had of her escape was the ominous bark of Master 

 " WoufF," a clever little terrier we had on board. Dog, puzzled by 

 the queer scaly rat he had suddenly encountered, regarded with im- 

 potent rage the lizard-like intruder ; while " Scales," secure in her 

 coat of mail, bid defiance to the attacks of her canine assailant. 



The Scaly Ant-eater is called by the Chinese of Quang-tung 



