32 MAMMALIA. BRUTA. Manis. 
giouiid; and that its focjd confifts of aquatic plants and ani' 
inals. This is all that can at prelent be reafonably guefl'ed at : 
future oblervations, made in its native regions, will, it i* 
hoped, afford us more ample information, and will make uS 
ully acquainted svith the natutal hiftoiv of an animal which 
difters lo widely from all other quadrupeds, and which verifies 
in amoftffrikingmannerthcobfervationofBuffon; viz. that 
whatever was poffible for Natuie to produce has adually 
been produced. 
“ On a lubjeft lo extraordinaiy as the prefent, a degree of fcep- ' 
ticilm is not only pardonable, but laudable ; and I ought ' 
perhaps to acknowledge that I almoft doubt the teftimony of ! 
iny own eyes with relpea to the ftruaure of this animal’s ' 
beiik ; yet mull confels that I can perceive no appearance of 
any deceptive preparation ; and the edges of the riflus, the 
inlertion, &c. when tried by the ted of maceration in water, 
lo as to render every part completely moveable feem perfeaiy 
natural; nor can tire moll accurate examination of expert ' 
anatomills difcover any deception in this particular. | 
“ The Platypus is a native of Aiifiralafm or Ntw Holland, and 
IS at at prelent in the poffeffion of' Mr. Dobson, lb much ' 
dillinguilhed by his exquilite manner of preparing Ipecimens I 
of vegetable anatomy.” 
li ! 
8. MANIS. Teeth o ; tongue round, extcn- 
file ; mouth narrowed into a fnout : ' 
body covered above with moveable 
bony fcales. 
Feet 5 -toed. ^ ' Short -tailed Manis. 
ijui. Inhabits Guinea, China, India : when irritated erefts its fcales? 
when attacked rolls up ; extept in the covering very much ! 
relemblcs the ant-eatei's. ■' i 
Scales chimnelled at the bafe, imbricate, rounded, fharp at the | 
edges; e^irr rounded, naked; under parts naked ; iaiY fat, ' 
covered wholly with Rales: length 6—8 feet including the ! 
Tetraclac- 
tyla. 
Feet 4 -toed. 
Inhabits India : much lefs. 
Long-tailed Manis- 
Scales much channelled, each armed with o points- undef 
parts covered with hair; tail three times as Iona as the 
body. ° 
\ 
9 . DASYPUS' 
