PANGOLIN, ant-eater ; mania.
Badjar-kita, . BENG. Tarang-giling,. . MALAY.
Ling-B, . . . . CHIN. Pang-giling, . Tanggilin, . . . MALAY. Arialer, TEL.
The pangolin of India, belonging to the order Edentata, gets its Indian name from its Malay designation. The genus is common to Africa and S.E. Asia, and in India is not rare, though, from their habit of appearing abroad after sunset, they are not often seen. Mania Javanica of Desmarest inhabits the Malayan Peninsula, Penang, Borneo, and Java. M. pentadactyla, Linn., is found in several parts of India. This species has been known ever since the expedition of Alexander the Great, and is mentioned by E1ian under the name Parranj.
Mania pentadactyla, Linn., Blyth.
Pholidotus Indicus, Gray. DI. brachyura, Erxleb. Mania crassicaudata, M. laticaudata, Gray, Gr. M. inaurita, Hodgson. M. Macroura, Desmareat. Pangolinus typus, Less.
Shalma, . . . BAORI. Kaulimah, . . MAlin. Keyot-mach, . . BENG. Kowli-manjra, . „ Kat-pohu, . „ Kassoli manjur, Ling-li, . . . CHIN. Alangu, . . DIAL.
Ban-rohu, . . . DVKH. Bajar-kit, SANSK., HIND. Sillu, Sal, Salu, . HIND. Bajrz-kapta, „ Sukun-khor, . „ Alawa, . . . . TEL.
Armoi, Kor.
Indian scaly nut-eater of all India. Mania aurita, Hodg., Blyth.
Pholidotus dalmanni, Gr. I M. leucura, Hodg.
M. Javanica, Bly. M. dahnanni, Saunder.
The Sikkim scaly ant-eater is met with in Harpeh, Kiangnan, and the southern Chinese provinces. It is dark coloured, more than 2 feet
long, and covered on the back, limbs, tail, and every part of the body, except the belly, with moveable imbricated scales. The tail is long, and the tongue very mobile. It lives on flies, ants, etc., by catching them upon its outstretched tongue. Sometimes it lies down as if dead, and as the flies collect upon its body, it closes on them with its scales, and, entering the water, feasts upon the prey which floats upon the surface of the water, drowned by the manoeuvre. The scales (Chuen-shan-kiah, Cum) are roughly triangular, concavo-convex, and marked at the attached end with fine grooves, like those on shell-valves. They are brown and semi-transparent, those of the tail being the finest. They were formerly given in all sorts and conditions of disease, not excluding skin diseases. The principal use at the present time is to scratch itching surfaces, for which purpose they are fixed upon a length of bamboo as a kind of curry - comb. This instrument is largely used amongst the prurient Chinese. — Tickell ; Elliot ; Jerdon's Mammals; Wallace's Archipelago; Smith's Chin. Mat. Med.