MARSUPIALIA OE MARSUPIALS. 131 



consolidated framework, but is composed of several parts, 

 so arranged as to allow freedom in the bending of the 

 body. One large shield covers the head, another the 

 shoulders, and another the rump, and between the two 

 last there are several parallel movable bands of the same 

 material. The tail in some cases is covered with succes- 

 sive rings, and in others, like the legs, with mere horny 

 tubercles. All this armor is attached to the skin of the 

 body ; and it is made up of numerous many-sided plates 

 placed together as inlaid work. 



The Armadillos have a pointed muzzle, slightly exten- 

 sible tongue, and powerful claws. They inhabit the warm 

 and hot parts of America, dig burrows, and live upon 

 vegetables, insects, and worms. They vary from about a 

 foot and a half in length, besides the tail, as in the Nine- 

 banded Armadillo of Texas and southward, to the Giant 

 Armadillo of South America, which attains a length of 

 three feet, besides tail. 



The Glyptodon, a. fossil Armadillo of South America, is 

 compared to a huge cask in size, and has a total length of 

 nine feet ! 



An armadillo-like animal (CJilomydopJiorus triincahts) 

 found in Chili, differs from the true Armadillos in having 

 only a series of transverse plates along the back, and these 

 attached to the body only along the spine. This curious 

 little edentate is only about six inches long. This animal 

 and the Armadillos belong to the sub-order LORICATA. 



SUB-SECTION XIV. 

 THE ORDER OF MARSUPIALIA OR MARSUPIALS. 



The Marsupials differ so widely from the true mamma- 

 lia that they not merely constitute a distinct order, but 



