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MANIS. 
Generic Character. 
Dentis nulli. 
Lingua teres, extensilis. 
Os angustatum in rostrum. 
Corpus squamis tectum. 
Teethy none. 
Tongue cyXindxicTLnd. extensile. 
Mouth narrowed into a snout. 
Body covered with scales. 
The genus Manis presents an appearance not 
less extraordinary than that of Dasypus or Arma- 
dillo ; being* covered on every part, except on the 
belly^ with extremely strong and large homy 
scales, constituting a suit of armour still more 
powerful than in the following genus, and capable 
of defending the animals, when rolled up, from 
the assaults of the most ferocious enemies. This 
external covering, together with the uncommon 
length of body and tail, gives an aspect so much 
resembling that of a Lizard, that these creatures 
are commonly known by the title of Scaly Lizards, 
though no otherwise allied to the Lizard tribe 
than in their unusual covering : they may be al- 
lowed, however, in a general view of the animal 
kingdom, to form a kind of shade or link of ap- 
proximation between the proper viviparous quad- 
rupeds and the Lizards. 
