. Fourteen weeks in zoology. Zoology. 104 SUBKINGDOM VEKTEBBATA. ORDER EDENTATA. General Characteristics.—The Edentates (toothless) are related only negatively by being destitute of incisors. Different members of the order being herbivorous, insectivor- ous, carnivorous, as well as omnivorous, no tabulation is given. Myrmecophagidse. — The Giant Ant-eater of South America has toothless jaws a foot long. It can open its Fig. Mt/iirwcophuga jubdta. Giant Ant-eater. mouth, however, only far enough to thrust forth its long, worm-like tongue.* This is covered by a viscid saliva, and can be da
. Fourteen weeks in zoology. Zoology. 104 SUBKINGDOM VEKTEBBATA. ORDER EDENTATA. General Characteristics.—The Edentates (toothless) are related only negatively by being destitute of incisors. Different members of the order being herbivorous, insectivor- ous, carnivorous, as well as omnivorous, no tabulation is given. Myrmecophagidse. — The Giant Ant-eater of South America has toothless jaws a foot long. It can open its Fig. Mt/iirwcophuga jubdta. Giant Ant-eater. mouth, however, only far enough to thrust forth its long, worm-like tongue.* This is covered by a viscid saliva, and can be darted hither and thither with lightning-like rapidity. With its fore feet, armed with powerful nails, it tears open an ant-hill, Avhen the bewildered inmates rush out, and, stick- ing to its tongue, are rapidly swept into its mouth. When sleeping, it wraps itself in its large, bushy tail, presenting the appearance of a heap of dried grass, and thus escapes the notice of its enemies. Attacked, it rises, bear-like, upon its hind feet and clasps its enemy, its strong claws being a match for the Jaguar. It is, however, quite inoffensive, and rarely uses its great strength, even in its own defence. * Though the animal ia only four or five feet long, it is said that the thread-like tongue can Ije thrust out to a distance of two feet and as often as twice per Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Steele, Joel Dorman, 1836-1886. New York, Chicago [etc. ] A. S. Barnes & Company
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