balance, and tumble backwards in the straw. If one of them be assaulted, he rolls himself up into a ball, so as to protect the more tender parts of his body, and expose merely the

armour.

Sir Woodbine Parish, in his account of Buenos Ayres, and the Provinces of the Rio de la Plata (1839), says, from his own experience, "that a more delicate dish than one of these little animals, roasted in its own shell, is not to be had in any part of the world!" The natives of South America eat them, especially when young; but when old, their flesh has a strong, musky

(Dasypus unicinctus, Linn.; D. gymnurus, Illig.)

The cabassou inhabits Brazil, where it is tolerably common, and attains a great size. The compartments of its bands and shields are square, and broader than long; the intermediate bands are twelve in number; all the feet have five toes, but those of the fore-feet possess enormous nails with trenchant outer edges; the tail is long and tuberculous. The Brazilians call the cabassou Tatu de rabo molle, or tatu with the soft tail.

The structure of the fore-feet enables this animal to burrow with rapidity, and to cling to the earth so tenaciously, that it is with extreme difficulty torn away from it.

The great ant-eater, a native of Brazil and Guiana, is about four feet and a half in length from the end of the snout to the root of the tail, which is somewhat more than two feet and a half in length. The mouth has no teeth, but is only occupied by a long vermiform tongue, capable of considerable elongation; all the feet have four nails, those of the fore-feet are large and strong; and the tail is long and bushy. The fur is of a greyish brown, with an oblique black band edged with white on each shoulder, and forms a nearly erect mane along the back.

It runs with a peculiar trot, and is not soon overtaken, for when chased it will keep a horse at a canter, and is not easily fatigued.

White-ants (Termites) are its chief food; and having, by means of its claws, pulled down the large mounds which these insects construct, it thrusts its long tongue amongst them, when they adhere to the saliva, and are drawn into the mouth. The tongue is alternately protruded and retracted so rapidly, that it is not surprising so large an animal can satiate itself with such small insects. The female produces only one at a birth ; and as soon as this is strong enough, it holds firmly to the back of its mother, who in that position carries it about for a year. If the mother be attacked she raises herself upon her haunches, and with the young one still adhering to her, strikes with her

* Sometimes improperly called ant-bear.

sharp claws at the enemy, principally with the right foot, whilst the left rests on the ground; but if the danger increases, she throws herself upon her back, and in that position defends herself by striking with both claws of the fore-feet, which possess such force that they are well able to rip open the belly of an assailant. Even the jaguar finds it difficult to conquer an ant-eater, and often both combatants kill one another on the spot.

The flesh of the ant-eater is eaten by the native population, and considered a great delicacy.

(Manis pentadactyla, Linn.; M. brachyura, Erxl.;

M. crassicaudata, Geoff.)

The pangolin inhabits the East Indies.

Its body, limbs, and tail, are protected by large sharp-edged scales, over-lapping one another. The mouth is destitute of

* Captain Brown, with his usual indifference to the most important, because the least entertaining, points in animal biography, not only confuses the present animal with the Manis tetradactyla, but says it is "a native of Guiana.", Sketches of Quadrupeds, (Glasgow, 1831, p. 435). The fact is, however, that neither species inhabit America.

teeth, but has a very extensible tongue; the legs are short; and the toes, five on each foot, are provided with curved claws. Ants are the chief food of the pangolin, and it captures them in the manner of the ant-eater (see page 385); and, indeed, the general shape, anatomy, and habits of the present animal, clearly show that it is merely a modified ant-eater, differing principally in its kind of clothing—a matter of but secondary account in all philosophic classifications, though formerly considered sufficient to authorize the bringing together of animals so dissimilar in habits and other respects, as the hedgehog and the porcupine. The pangolin's coat of mail not only defies a legion of angry ants, but protects it from the more vigorous attacks of large animals. When in danger it rolls itself up like a ball, and in that position, with its sharp scales elevated like so many spear-heads, is prepared to receive those who have the temerity to molest it. Nemo me impune lacessit is the motto on its coat of arms.

THE INDIAN ELEPHANT.-(Elephas Indicus, Cuv.)

The biography of the elephant involves so many details of its peculiar structure; its faculties; its habits in a state of nature; the several modes adopted for its capture; its docility and tractability in servitude; its antiquarian history as regards the Roman Amphitheatre, sculpture in ivory, and geology; and the extensive commerce at present carried on in its tusks, that a whole volume has been written of nearly four hundred pages solely treating of this animal.* Therefore it cannot be expected that I should enter into details which would occupy the re

* I allude to the excellent history of the elephant, which forms the second volume of that portion of the Library of Entertaining Knowledge, entitled The Menageries (1831).