THE

HERE are feveral animals diftinguished by the common name of Ant-eaters, which differ greatly in form. They are divided into three claffes; viz, the Great, the Middle, and the Leffer Ant-eater.

The GREAT ANT-EATER is nearly four feet in length, exclufive of its tail, which is two and a half. It is remarkable for the great length of its fnout, which is of a cylindrical form, and serves as a fheath to its long and flender tongue, which always lies folded double in its mouth, and is the chief inftrument by which it finds fubfiftence.

This creature is a native of Brazil and Guiana, runs flowly, frequently fwims over rivers, lives wholly on ants, which it collects by thrusting its tongue into their holes, and having penetrated every part of the neft, withdraws it into its mouth loaded with prey.

Its legs are fo ftrong, that few animals can extricate themselves from its gripe. It is faid to be formidable

even to the Panthers of America; and sometimes fixes itfelf upon them in fuch a manner, that both of them fall and perish together; for its obftinacy is so great, that it will not extricate itself from its adverfary even after he is dead.

The flesh has a strong difagreeable taste, but is eaten by the Indians.

The MIDDLE ANT-EATER is one foot feven inches from nose to tail. It inhabits the fame countries, and procures its food in the fame manner, as the last. Its tail is ten inches long, with which it fecures its hold in climbing trees by twisting it round the branches.

Both these animals have four strong claws on the fore feet, and five on the hind.

The LESSER ANT-EATER has a fharp-pointed nofe, inclining a little downward: Its ears are small, and hid in the fur: It has two ftrong hooked claws on the fore feet, the outward one being much the largest; and four on the hind feet: Its fur is long, foft, and filky,-of a yellowish-brown colour: Its length, from nose to tail, is feven inches and a half; tail above eight, thick at the bafe, and taper to the end.-It inhabits Guiana; climbs trees in quest of a species of ants which build their nests among the branches.

Animals of this kind are found in Ceylon and the Cape of Good Hope.-Kolben describes the latter as having long heads and tongues; that they feed on ants; and are fo ftrong, that, if they faften their claws in the ground, they cannot easily be pulled away.—It is called in Ceylon the Talgoi, or Ant-Bear.

THE GREAT MANIS, OR PANGOLIN.

TH

HIS fingular animal is defended by a coat of mail, which protects it from the attacks of the most powerful animals. All the upper parts of its body are clofely covered with scales of different fizes, which it can erect at pleasure, oppofing to its adversary a formidable row of offenfive weapons. The Tiger, the Panther, or the Leopard, in vain attempt to force it. The moment it perceives the approach of an enemy, it rolls itself up like a Hedge-hog, and by that means fecures all the weaker parts of its body.

It is a native of Formofa and the Indian ifles; is likewife found in Guinea, where it feeds on ants, which it takes by laying out its long red tongue, covered with an unctuous flime, across the paths of those infects.

It is flow in its motions; grows to the length of eight feet, including its tail, which is four.

Its flesh is much efteemed for its delicacy; but it is difficult to procure, as the animal avoids mankind, and lives in obfcure retreats, in woods, and marshy places.

THE PHATAGIN, OR LONG-TAILED MANIS,

is less than the Pangolin, being not more than a foot long from head to tail. Its body is covered with sharppointed fcales; its throat and belly with hair: Its legs are fhort; and each foot has four claws. It is remarkable for the great length of its tail, which in fome is above a yard long.

It is a native of Guinea, has been fometimes called the SCALY LIZARD, and may be said to be the connecting link in the chain of being between quadrupeds and rep

tiles.

THE

ARMADILLO

S found only in South-America, where there are feveral varieties of them.-They are all covered with a ftrong cruft or fhell, and are diftinguished from each other by the number of the flexible bands of which it is compofed.

It is a harmless, inoffenfive animal; feeds on roots, fruits, and other vegetables; grows very fat; and is greatly esteemed for the delicacy of its flesh.

The Indians hunt it with fmall Dogs, trained for that purpose. When surprised, it runs to its hole, or attempts to make a new one, which it does with great expedition, having ftrong claws on its fore feet, with which it adheres fo firmly to the ground, that if it fhould be caught by the tail whilst making its way into the earth, its refiftance is fo great, that it will fometimes leave it in the hands of its purfuers: To avoid this, the

hunter has recourse to artifice; and by tickling it with a ftick, it gives up its hold, and fuffers itself to be taken alive. If no other means of escape be left, it rolls itself up within its covering by drawing in its head and legs, and bringing its tail round them, as a band to connect them more forcibly together: In this fituation it sometimes efcapes by rolling itself over the edge of a precipice, and generally falls to the bottom unhurt.

The most fuccessful method of catching Armadillos is by fnares laid for them by the fides of rivers or other places where they frequent.-They all burrow very deep in the ground, and feldom ftir out, except during the night, whilst they are in search of food.

To give a minute description of the shells or coverings of the Armadillos, would be extremely difficult; as they are all compofed of a number of parts, differing greatly from each other in the order and difpofition of the figures with which they are diftinguished: But it may be neceffary to obferve, that in general there are two large pieces that cover the fhoulders and the rump, between which lie the bands, which are more or lefs in number in different kinds. These bands are not unlike thofe in the tail of a lobster; and, being flexible, give way to the motions of the animal.- -The first we shall mention is

THE TATUAPARA, OR THREE-BANDED
ARMADILLO.

Its fhell is about twelve inches long, with three bands in the middle: The cruft on the head, back, and rump, is divided into a number of elegant raised figures, with five angles or fides: Its tail is not more than two inches long: It has neither cutting nor canine teeth; and has five toes on each foot.