MYRMECOPlIAGIDili. MAMMALIA. MYKMECOPHAGlDAi. 147 
THE SHOEMAILED PANGOLIN {Manis penta- 
dactyla), or Badgareit, is also known as the Broad- 
tailed Manis, and is supposed to be the Phattagen 
described by iElian. It is an inhabitant of the conti- 
nent of India and Ceylon, and is the largest species at 
present living. In the interior of Plindostan the natives 
apply to it a number of curious names : thus, in the 
Deccan, it is termed the “ tiled-cat elsewhere it is 
called the “ land-carp and in Ceylon the “ negumbo 
devil.” The body approaches fom- feet in length, 
including the tail, which is not quite so long as the 
body and head together. Although this animal is 
very valuable as a destroyer of white ants and their 
huge nests, it would appear from the observations of 
travellers that the Badgareits are frequently subjected 
to mere wanton cruelty on the part of the Asiatic 
natives. 
THE LONG-TAILED PANGOLIN {Manis tetradactyla) 
— Plate 17, fig. 58 — is so named on account of the 
extraordinary development of the caudal extremity. It 
is a small animal, about three feet in length at the most; 
but the tail is twice as long as the body, and contains 
no less than forty-seven vertebral segments, while in 
the animal above described there are only twenty-six 
of these bones. This species, the scales of which are 
black, and yellow at the margins, is a native of the 
coast of Guinea. 
THE MANY SHIELDED PANGOLIN {Manis multi- 
scutata), or Phatagin, has been thus named by Dr. 
J. E. Gray, from the circumstance that the horny 
scales forming its dermal armature are disposed in rows 
var 3 dng from nineteen to twenty-one in number; whereas 
in the two species above noticed, there are only eleven 
rows. This species, the scales of which are small, of 
a yellowish-grey colour, and three-pointed posteriorly, 
is also a native of the coast of Guinea. 
TEMMINCK’S PANGOLIN {Manis Temminclci) is a 
native of Southern Africa, being found to the north of 
Cape Colony, in the neighbourhood of Mozambique, 
and also in Sennaar. The body is rather more than 
two feet in length, including the tail, which measures 
about a foot. Tlie scales are disposed in eleven rows, 
the last four rows having only four scutes in each, while 
those of the anterior series have five. It is a scarce 
animal, its almost total extinction having been brought 
about by a prevailing superstition among the natives 
that it has some evil effect upon cattle. Accordingly, 
when they catch any unfortunate Pangolin, they bum 
it alive as an offering to the deity, in the hope that 
some advantage may accrue to their flocks ! It is, 
however, a poor harmless little beast, feeding, like its 
congeners, principally upon ants. 
Family II.— MYRMECOPHAGIDA5. 
Under this head are brought together the Ant-eaters 
properly so called. They are distinguished from the 
pangolins by the substitution of an abundant hairy fur 
in place of the scaly covering above described. None 
of the typical Ant-eaters display any organs of denti- 
tion ; but in the aberrant genus Orycteropus, we find in 
young individuals upwards of twenty molars. Usually 
also the ears are short, rounded, and feebly developed ; 
but in the particular genus referred to they are long 
and sharply pointed. The tail is of considerable 
length in all the species. Another peculiarity of great 
interest has reference to the feet ; for here we notice 
in the fore-limbs that the ultimate phalanges of the 
toes, which support the claws, are so constructed as to 
allow the movements of the latter being restricted to 
flexion inwards ; and in order to maintain this position, 
there are powerful ligaments which keep the phalanges 
directed towards the palm, and never allow the digits 
to be stretched out in the manner of the plantigrade 
carnivora. The relative size and strength of the toes 
is also very significant, both in this family and in the 
preceding; in those which have five toes the central 
digit attains an enormous bulk, while the outer pair 
are comparatively small. In order, moreover, to afford 
adequate power for tire digging and burrowing propen- 
sities of these animals, the phalanges are all closely 
connected together up to the base of the ultimate 
phalanx, converting the hand into a sort of trowel 
similar to that found in moles. From what has been 
advanced, therefore, it will readily be remarked, that 
the Ant-eaters do not walk on the soles of their feet ; 
neither do they tread on their strongly-curved toes, 
whicli would damage the claws, but, in the fore-feet 
at least — as may be seen by referring to the drawing 
of the Great Ant-eater given in Plate 17, fig. 57 — 
the anterior part of the body is seen to rest entirely 
upon their outer edge ; and that part of the hands thus 
subjected, as it were, to an unusual pressure, is in these 
creatures supplied with an efficient callous pad to 
protect the outer phalanges from injury. Another 
circumstance in the organization of these creatures 
which has especial claim upon our attention, is the 
remarkable development of the anterior part of the 
head, and the more than coextensive elongation of the 
tongue. In the typical species this organ is rounded, 
and marked by annulations which indicate the several 
muscular rings entering into its composition; but in 
the aberrant genus previously alluded to, the lingual 
organ assumes a flattened form : in the tjqiical species 
it can be extended to nearly twice the length of the 
head. Such, in brief, are the leading characteristics 
of this singular family; all of them pointing to their 
insectivorous habits, and demonstrating a special design 
in their construction and adaptability to the mode of life 
they lead. Having torn open the habitations of ants and 
other nest-building insects, the swarming myriads issue 
forth to give battle to the unceremonious intruder ; the 
slimy and extensile organ is immediately presented to 
the astonished crowd, Avho, collecting on the glutinous 
appendage, are, within less than a second of time, drawn 
within the capacious maw of the keen and small-eyed 
myrmecophaga ! The typical species seem, in South 
America — where, they alone occur — to represent the 
scaly pangolins of Asia and Africa; but the single 
aberrant genus Orycteropus is a native of the last-named 
continent. 
THE GREAT ANT-EATER {Mrjrmecophaga juhata ) — 
Plate 17, fig. 57 — is a native of Brazil, Surinam, 
Columbia, Paraguay, and, in short, of all the tropical 
districts of South America. By the English and Spanish 
colonists it is known as the Ant-bear ; but one would 
