32 
LITTLE FOLKS 
This interesting creature is covered with scales, which overlap 
each other like shingles on a roof. He has no ears, at least none 
that can be seen outside, and no teeth. He lives entirely on ants, 
which he procures by tearing open an ant hill, and running into it 
a long sticky tongue, which holds fast every unhappy ant it touches. 
If this scaly gentleman is attacked, he scorns to run away, but 
rolls himself into a ball at once, when his coat of mail protects him 
from all enemies. To perform this curious operation, he throws 
himself on his back, bends his head over towards his stomach, 
arches up his back, and wraps his strong tail tightly around the 
whole. This gentleman lives in the woods of India and Africa, and 
his name, Pengolin, means to roll into a ball. For a house, he digs 
out a burrow seven or eight feet deep. The baby Pengolins have 
no scales at first, but have a skin like leather, marked however just 
Vke their mother. The whole family are gentle and easily trained, 
when they become affectionate pets. 
