CHAPTER XII 
THE ORDER OF DIGGERS 
EFFODIENTIA 
This Order contains only a very small number of genera and species, all of which are confined 
to the Old World. They are the pangolins of Africa and the Far East, and the aard-varks of 
Africa. , Until very recently, these animals have been classed with the ant-eaters, sloths and arma- 
dillos, in the Order Edentata, or toothless mammals. But both in internal and external anat- 
omy they differ widely from their very distant American relatives. 
The latest and most exact classification assigns them to a new and wholly independent Order, 
called Ef-fo-di-en'-tia, which means “Diggers.” Its divisions are as below: 
FAMILIES. EXAMPLES. 
ORDER 
EFFODIENTIA 
■'! 
Pangolins, 
Aard-Varks, . 
MAN'I-DAE, . 
\ Manis, or Pangolin, of India. 
( Manis pentadactyla. 
O-R YC-TE-RO-POD'1-DA E, 
Aard-Vark, of South Africa. 
Oryderopus a'fer. 
THE PANGOLIN FAMILY. 
Manidae. 
One good look at a pangolin, or manis, is 
enough to arouse curiosity, and provoke inquiry. 
Like the armadillo, it is one of the wonders of 
the living world, — absolutely toothless, dwelling 
upon the earth, surrounded by savage and merci- 
less enemies, but safe in the protection of a com- 
plete suit of plate armor, and powerful claws for 
digging. There are about seven species in this 
Family, scattered all the way from China and 
Borneo to South Africa, excepting the break in 
the chain caused by the deserts of North Africa 
and Arabia. Of the three African species, two 
are distinguished by the extreme length of their 
tails, and one by its great size, six feet in length, 
which entitles it to the name Giant Pangolin. 
The Indian Pangolin, or Manis , 1 of Ceylon 
and India, generally in the lowland forests, may 
be chosen as the representative of this Family. 
My first feeling toward it is that of friendship 
and gratitude, for in the jungles of Ceylon a 
living specimen once furnished me entertainment, 
anxiety and sustenance. 
My first Manis was brought by a native, who 
carried it in a bag over thirty-five hot and dusty 
1 Man' is pent-a-dac'ty-la. 
miles. While in transit on man-back, the ani- 
mal kept himself comfortably coiled, but when 
set free upon the ground he promptly uncoiled 
AN INDIAN PANGOLIN, ROLLED UP. 
and stood up for inspection. He was 36 inches 
long, including the tail, which measured 17 
inches, and his weight was 18 pounds. 
From the tip of his nose to the end of his tail, 
he was covered with broad, flattened shield- 
shaped plates, or scales, of clear, gray horn. 2 
2 Museum specimens are usually of a yellowish- 
brown color. 
