. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. THE CirE ANT-EATER. 171 the teetli are unworn, tliis outer covering covers tlicir top, l)ut as it wears off the tubular appearance is seen, anil the ends of the tubes become exposed. Tlie teeth have no fangs like those of such orders of Mammalia as the Carnivora and Insectivora, and they increase in length by growth from below, so that the wear above is continually compensated for. The second tooth resembles the first in its minute construction, but appears like two cylinders fixed together, a longitudinal groove indi- cating the jiniction
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. THE CirE ANT-EATER. 171 the teetli are unworn, tliis outer covering covers tlicir top, l)ut as it wears off the tubular appearance is seen, anil the ends of the tubes become exposed. Tlie teeth have no fangs like those of such orders of Mammalia as the Carnivora and Insectivora, and they increase in length by growth from below, so that the wear above is continually compensated for. The second tooth resembles the first in its minute construction, but appears like two cylinders fixed together, a longitudinal groove indi- cating the jiniction, and this is the appearance presented by most of the others. 'J'he hindermost teeth resemble the first molars. The dental number varies according to age, and the pre- sence or absence of the teeth which are not permanent. The jaws, iu which, the teeth are fixed, are long, and the lower one is low, bnt there is an ascending back part, or ramus ; consequently, the face is long and low. The eye is placed far from the ear, and is small. Its bony case, or orbit, and its surrounding bones, are somewhat remarkable for an Eden- tate, for there is a lachrymal bone, and the tear canal is open on the bony face. Moreover, the malar bone is united to the ear bone by a complete arch, the zygoma, and the deficiency so remarkable in some other Edentates is thus not observed. The pre-maxillary bones are also to be seen, in front of the face. In this completeness of the bones of the face this animal is a true mammal, but \x\ the nature and extent of the ear bones, the Orycteropus has some resemblance to reptiles and birds. The tongue is long, narrow, and flat, and can lie protruded considerably beyond the , but not so far as those of the other inseot-eating Edentata ; and in order to keep up a supply of thick mucus, the glands under and at its side, or the sub-maxillary, are very large and active in their functions. The stomach is moderately bulky and not simple, for the portion towards
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