Many-scaled Manis. 



Manis Multiscutata, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. p. 22, 1843. 

 „ „ Fraser, Proc. Zool. Soc. p. 53, 1843. 



This species of Manis is at once distinguished from the Manis tetradactyla (which it most 

 nearly approaches) by its having the tail rather shorter,— that is, about half as long again as the 

 body,— and double the number of series of scales on the body, and also by the scales being more 

 acute, and furnished each with three sharp points. 



During my short residence at Fernando Po, I succeeded in procuring two living specimens of 

 this animal. The individuals, judging from the bones, were evidently not adult; the largest 

 measured thirty inches in length, of which the head and body were twelve inches, and the tail 

 eighteen inches. I kept them alive for about a week at Fernando Po, and allowed them the range 

 of a room, where they fed upon a small black ant, which is very abundant and troublesome in the 

 houses and elsewhere. Even when first procured they displayed little or no fear, but continued to 

 climb about the room without noticing my occasional entrance. They would climb up the some- 

 what roughly hewn square posts, which supported the building, with great facility, and upon 

 reaching the ceiling would return head foremost ; sometimes they would roll themselves up into a 

 ball and throw themselves down, and apparently without experiencing any inconvenience from the 

 fall, which was in a measure broken upon reaching the ground by the semi-yielding scales, which 

 were thrown into an erect position by the curve of the body of the animal. In climbing, the tail, 

 with its strongly-pointed scales beneath, was used to assist the feet ; and the grasp of the hind feet, 

 assisted by the tail, was so powerful that the animal would throw the body back (when on the 

 post), as represented in the drawing, into a horizontal position, and sway itself to and fro, apparently 

 taking pleasure in this kind of exercise. It always slept with the body rolled up ; and when in this 

 position in a corner of the building, owing to the position and strength of the scales and the power 

 of the limbs combined, I found it impossible to remove the animal against its will, the points of the 

 scales being inserted into every little notch and hollow of the surrounding objects. The eyes are 

 very dark hazel, and very prominent. The colonial name for this species of Manis is " Attadillo," 

 and it is called by the Boobies, the natives of the island, " Gahlah." The flesh is said to be 

 exceeding good eating, and is in great request among the natives. . 



Habitat, the island of Fernando Po, western coast of Africa. 



In the back ground is an " economical tree ( Caryota urens) called ' Mark ' by the Mahrattas. 

 The juice of the ' Mark ' is extracted, allowed to ferment, and is drank as ' Tarry ' is drank. From 

 the 1 Mark ' it is called ' MarlieeJ The 6 Mark ' is seldom seen far from the Ghauts. There are 

 one or two trees at Poona, and one or two at Bombay. It is common in the Mawuls, but not so in 

 the Desh or Konkun." It is copied from one of Colonel Sykes' drawings. 



