212 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



parts are soft, flesh-coloured, and clothed with coarse 

 hair — probably the remnants of an original furry 

 covering which still persists on the upper surface of 

 the allied Dasypus vellerostis. The claws of the 

 armadillo are strong, broad, and sharp— well suited 

 to such a miner as the present species : the teeth 

 are simple in structure like so many pegs and are 

 remarkable for being devoid of enamel in the adult. 

 The armour on the back is composed of bony plates 

 set in the skin and covered with a thin epidermis : 

 newly born animals have the mail soft and white like 

 the pupse of beetles. At eight weeks young peludo 

 are nearly as big as their parents : one which was 

 born in London on September 3rd, 1831, weighed 

 no less than 52 oz. 2 drachms at its death on 

 November i6th following. 



The hairy armadillo inhabits the pampas of 

 Argentina. One of the most adaptable of beasts, 

 it is often abundant near human habitations and 

 even increases with increasing population. Astute 

 and versatile to the very tips of its claws, it is 

 more than able to take care of itself; with a pliability 

 th^t puts the famous Vicar of Bray very far in the 

 shade it flourishes where other armadilloes, its less 

 plastic congeners, dwindle yearly to extinction. 

 Does its native heath remain a wilderness? It 

 continues its daylight habits. Does man also share 

 its haunts? It becomes nocturnal. Accommo- 

 dating and omnivorous, it hardly refuses any food 



