Edentata. MAMMALIA. Edentata. cxi 
sliielcl ; the latter is attaclied to tlie hones of tlie 
pelvis. 'I'wo genera are known. 
Chlamydopiiorus. 
'J’lie dorsal shield is attached only to the middle of 
back ; the sides of the back nnder tlie shield, the 
under side of the body and limbs covered with silky 
hairs. 
PICHICIAGO {G. truncatus)—F\g. 51, vol. i, p. 152. 
— 'I'his strange form is an inhabitant of Ghili. It 
unites to the characters of its allies, those of the 
Mole to a certain extent, its large claws suiting its 
fossorial habits. It is rare, even in Chili, and is 
seldom seen in collections. 'I’he creature looks like 
an artificially made-up object, as if it may have been 
carved in stone. Its posterior is abruptly truncated, 
and the back covered with a series of plates of 
armor, similar to those of the Armadillos ; this cov- 
ering is loose, excepting along the dorsal ridge and 
top of the head. It is considered to be nearer the 
Megatherium than any living species. Dr. Harlan, 
who first described this creature, says : “ Wq here 
present a an animal combining in its ex- 
ternal configuration a mechanical arrangement of 
parts which characterizes, respectively, the Armadillo, 
the Sloth, and the Mole ; constituting in them- 
selves, individually and separately, of all other 
quadrupeds, those which offer the most remarkable 
anatomical characters.” The natives of the country 
call it the Blind Armadillo. Mendoza is the exact 
locality of its habitat ; it does not extend over the 
Andes. Burmeister found a second species, which 
is now placed in another genus, as follows : 
Burmeisteria. 
'I’his genus is distinguished by the dorsal shield 
being attached as far as the edge to the skin of the 
back. 'I’he pelvic disk and the tail are oidy covered 
partially with tesserae, or square plates ; the sides 
and under parts covered by woolly hair. 
Burmeisteria retusa is the only species. It has 
the plates of the dorsal shield with one or two 
bristles on the hinder edge ; those on the sides of 
the back with many bristles on the, lower edge ; 
the upper part of the pelvic disk with pencils of 
bristles. It was formerly described by Burmeister 
as Chlam. retusus. It is larger than the preceding, 
which is about the size of a large Rat. Its habitat 
is Bolivia and Santa Gruz de la Sierra. 
Dr. Gray introduces the Orycteropodidce as the next 
family. None of these forms are found in America. 
'I'he Aard-Vark is the typical species. Habitat 
South Africa, three species being known. 
Family— MYRMECOPHAGID.®. 
'J’he body is covered with hair. 'The head is coni- 
cal, elongate, with small mouth, 'reeth are absent. 
Cuvier called the group Edentata gennina. 'I’he 
ribs are flat, more or less dilated externally ; in 
Cyclothuri the ribs overlap from this cause. 
Myrmecopiiaoa. 
In this genus the toes are 4-5. 'I’he palatine 
and pterygoid bones are united beneath the nasal 
canal for its whole length. 'I’he fur of the body and 
tail is elongate and flaccid. 'I’he tail is extremely 
bushy. 'I’he skull is remarkably long and slender. 
One species only is known. 
GREAT k'ST-^Ei^E&[Myrmecophaga jubata).—V\-cii<i 
17, fig. 57. — 'I’his singular creature is also called 
'I'amanoir and Ant-bear. It is the largest of living 
Edentates, measuring nearly seven feet in length, in- 
clusive of the tail, which is about two and a half 
feet. 'I’he tail is a most wonderful feature, flowing 
like a fountain plume of great dimensions over the 
entire body of the animal. It is plantigrade, yet the 
curved claws render locomotion uncomfortable for 
any extended action. Its habits are slothfid and 
solitary ; and it sleeps during a great portion of the 
day. Its food consists of Ants, principally; its 
powerful claws serve to open the Ant-hills, while its 
long and flexible tongue serves to collect them. 
'I’he great size of the creature suggests a compari- 
son with the seemingly ignoble nature of its prey; 
but when the enormous quantities of insects that 
congregate in tropical countries is taken into ac- 
count, we readily see the wisdom of the relationship. 
'I’hey are not numerous. The female has only one 
cub at a birth, which clings to the back of the mother 
even after it can shift for itself. 
'Tamandua. 
'riie toes in this genus are 5-4. 'I’he palatine 
and pterygoid bones are united beneath the nasal 
canal for the whole length. 'I’he fur is short and 
bristly. The tail is prehensile. Strictly arboreal in 
habits. 
THE COLLARED TAMANDUA [T. Uvittata).—'V\us, 
resembles the preceding, excepting in the shape of 
the tail and in size, the present being about one-third 
the bulk of the Tamanoir. It is more active than 
the latter, and finds a home in the thickest forests. 
It feeds on insects, and is said to be fond of wild 
honey. Its habitat is in Brazil and Paraguay. 
'I’he T. longicauda, or Yellow 'I'amandua, is simi- 
lar to the present, but has longer tail and a lighter- 
colored pelage. 'I’he ears are large and rounded, 
and there is no mark upon the shoulder that dis- 
tinguishes the other. 
Gyclothurus. 
'I’he toes in this genus are 2-5, the outer front 
one much the largest. 'I’he pterygoid bones meet, 
and present two long, parallel, and little prominent 
crests. 'I’he skull is short and broad. 'I’he ribs over- 
lap each other from the great expansion of the ex- 
terior edges. 
THE LITTLE ANT-EATER {Gyclothurus didaety- 
Iws). — This little form has a highly prehensile tail ; 
hence the generic term, meaning twisted-tail. It is 
a native of tropical America, inhabiting the dense 
forests. Like the preceding, it is nocturnal in habit, 
sleeping during the day, with its tail enclosing the 
