270 MAMMALIA-ARMADILLO. 



of one piece, like that of the turtle ; it consists of several parts joined to each 

 other by as many membranes, which put this armor in motion. The num- 

 ber of these natural bands does not depend on the age of the animal ; for 

 the young armadillo and the adults have in the same species the same num- 

 ber. Father d' Abbeville has distinguished six species of the armadillo, but 

 the principal difference between them consists in the number of bands or 

 divisions in the armor of the different species. The six-banded armadillo 

 differs from its fellows in being also of a smaller size, not larger than that 

 of a young pig, and in its tail being shorter. 



The armadilloes in general are innocent, harmless animals ; if they can pe- 

 netrate into gardens, they will eat melons, potatoes, pulse and roots. Though 

 used originally to the hot climates of America, they live in temperate regions. 

 They walk quickly, but they can neither leap, run, nor climb up trees ; so they 

 cannot escape by flight ; they have then no other resource but to hide them- 

 selves in their holes, or, if they are at too great a distance from their subterra- 

 neous habitations, they contrive to dig one before they are overcome ; for the 

 mole is not more expert in digging the ground. They are sometimes caught 

 before they are out of sight, and they then make such a resistance, that the 

 tail is broken without bringing out the body ; in order to take them without 

 mutilation, the burrow must be opened; they are then caught without 

 making any resistance. "When they find themselves in the hands of their 

 pursuers, they roll themselves up into a ball, and are placed near the fire, to 

 force them to stretch out their coat of mail; which, hard as it is, as soon as 

 it is touched with the finger, the animal receives so quick an impression, 

 that he contracts instantaneously. When they are in deep burrows, the 

 method of forcing them out is to smoke them, or to let water run down the 

 hole ; the former process, however, is not always successful, as while his 

 pursuer digs, the animal digs also, and so effectually closes up the hole, by 

 throwing up the earth backwards, that the smoke is excluded. Some pre- 

 tend they remain under ground above three months without venturing out : 

 it is true, that they remain in their holes in the daytime, and never go out 

 but in the night to seek for their subsistence. The armadillo is hunted 

 with small dogs, who soon overtake him ; but he stops before they have 

 reached him, and contracts himself; in this condition he is taken and carried 

 off. If he finds himself on the brink of a precipice, he escapes the dogs and 

 the hunters, by rolling himself up, and letting himself fall down like a ball, 

 without injury or prejudice to his scales. 



" The armadillo," says Mr Waterton, " is very common in these (the South 

 American) forests; he burrows in the sand hills like a rabbit. As it often 

 takes a considerable time to dig him out of his hole, it would be a long and 

 laborious business to attack each hole indiscriminately, without knowing 

 whether the animal were there or not. To prevent disappointment, the 

 Indians carefully mine the mouth of the hole, and put a short stick down it. 

 Now if, on introducing the stick, a number of musquitoes come out, the 



