MYRMECOPHAGA. ANT-EATER. 
Generic Characte7\ 
Dejtfes nulli. 
Li?igua teres, extensilis. 
Os angustatum in rostrum. 
Corpus pilis tectum. 
Teeth^ none. 
Tongue cylindric, extensile. 
Mouth lengthened into a 
somewhat tubular form. 
Body covered with hair. 
1 HE animals of this genus live entirely on in- 
sectSj 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 w^hich 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 
