. The animal kingdom : arranged after its organization; forming a natural history of animals, and an introduction to comparative anatomy. Zoology. 114 Div. 1. VERTEBRATE ANIMALS—MAMMALIA. Class The Ant-eaters {Myrmecophaga, Lin.)— Are well covered with hair, have a long muzzle which terminates by a small toothless mouth, frora which is protruded a filiform tongue, susceptible of considerable elongation, and which they insinuate into ant-hills and the nests of the Termites, whence these insects are withdrawn by being entangled in the viscid saliva that covers it. Their fore-nails, strong an
. The animal kingdom : arranged after its organization; forming a natural history of animals, and an introduction to comparative anatomy. Zoology. 114 Div. 1. VERTEBRATE ANIMALS—MAMMALIA. Class The Ant-eaters {Myrmecophaga, Lin.)— Are well covered with hair, have a long muzzle which terminates by a small toothless mouth, frora which is protruded a filiform tongue, susceptible of considerable elongation, and which they insinuate into ant-hills and the nests of the Termites, whence these insects are withdrawn by being entangled in the viscid saliva that covers it. Their fore-nails, strong and trenchant, which vary in number according to the species, enable them to tear open the nests of the Termites, and also furnish them with effective means of defence. When at rest, these nails are always half-bent inwards, resembling a callosity of the tarsus; hence these animals can only bring the side of the foot to the ground. Their stomach is simple, and muscular towards its outlet, their intestinal canal moderate, and without a ccecum.* The members of this genus are pecuUar to the warm and temperate regions of South America, and produce but one young at a birth, which is carried on the back. The Maned or Great Ant-eater (3/. jubata, Auct.), upwards of four feet in length, with four anterior claws and five hind ones, and a tail furnished with long- hairs vertically directed, both above and beneath. Its colour is g^reyish- brown, with an oblique black band bordered with white on each shoulder. It is the largest species of Ant-eater ; and stated [but erroneously] to de- fend itself from the Jaguar. It inhabits low places, never ascends trees, and moves slowly. The Tamandua (M. tamandua, Cuv.; Myrm. tetradactyla and M. tridactyla, Lin.).—Figure and feet of the preceding, but not half the Fie. Ani-eater. gj^e ; the tail scantily furnished with hair, and naked and prehensile at the tip, enabling the animal to suspend itself to the branches of trees. Some of them
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwe, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectzoology
