182 
SHORT-TAILED MANIS. 
mens are perfectly smooth, but in those which 
are smaller are slightly striated about half way 
from the base. Sometmies a few bristles appear 
between the scales, but in others this is not ob- 
servable. The scales differ in shape from those 
of the preceding, being much wider and larger 
in proportion to the body and tail. The co- 
lour of the whole animal is a very pale yellow- 
brown, and the surface is glossy, as in the former 
species. In India it is called the PangoelHng. 
In the neighbourhood of Bengal it is named Va- 
jracite, or the Thunderbolt Reptile, from the ex- 
cessive hardness of the scales, which are said to 
be capable even of striking fire like a flint. It is 
found in different parts of India, and perhaps also 
in Guinea; this is on the authority of Des Mar- 
chois, who says it is called Quogeio by the ne- 
groes; that it grows to the length of eight feet, 
of which the tail is four ; that it lives in woods 
and marshy places, and feeds on ants, by laying- 
its long tongue across their paths. It is said to 
walk slowly ; but, when pursued, rolls itself up, 
and is then so securely armed that even a leopard 
attacks it in vain. It is also said sometimes to 
destroy the elephant, by twisting itself round the 
trunk, and thus compressing that tender and sensi- 
ble organ with its hard scales. We are told in 
the Asiatic Researches, that the Malabar name of 
this animal is Alungu; and that the natives of 
Bahar call it Bajar-cit, or the Stone vermin; and 
in the stomach of the one examined and described 
