ARMADILLO FAMILY 



299 



The Nine-banded Armadillo, an occasional 

 visitor across our Southern border, is one of the 

 curious survivors of a prehistoric family. 



Ages ago, across the pamjjas of South America 

 roamed a group of lumbering animals protected 

 by huge dome-like shells. Some were provided 

 with long tails studded with protective knobs 

 like the armor of a knight. These prehistoric 

 Armadillos were called Glyptodons, and their 

 strong defensive armor protected them for a long 

 time against their enemies. 



The early Armadillos reached their largest 

 size in Argentina. Thence they ranged north- 

 ward, gradually dwindling both in size and num- 

 bers until today, in each respect, they are com- 

 paratively insignificant. Three species still are 



can literally roll itself up into an armor-encased 

 ball. At the first hint of danger, up it rolls — 

 even the top of its head being armored — thus 

 presenting a tough nut for even the strongest 

 animal to crack. 



The Armadillo likewi.'.e finds both a shelter and 

 a home by digging in the earth, its toes being 

 armed with exceedingly long claws which pene- 

 trate rapidly into the hardest soil. These are 

 practically all its means of defense, since while 

 it can run rapidly, its legs are so short that it 

 cannot go far. It cannot climb trees ; and its 

 lack of front teeth is a further weakness. 



The Armadillo roams chiefly by night. It pre- 

 fers the open country and is found on the most 

 arid wastes. In movement it is quick, nervous. 



ARMADILLO 



The wonderful defensive armor of this strange beast is clearly shown from this life picture, taken near the 



Mexican border 



fairly common. These are known, frum the 

 leaves on their armor, as the " Three-banded," 

 the " Six-banded," and the " Nine-banded " 

 .\rmadillos, A fourth species, the Giant Arma- 

 dillo, is practically extinct. 



The Nine-banded Armadillo, our most north- 

 erly visitor, ranges north from Paraguay 

 through tropical America to Mexico, and occa- 

 sionally crosses the Rio Grande into Texas. It 

 -is an extensive range, and much larger than that 

 of other species. The body is protected by 

 a bony shell consisting of large sections 

 joined in the middle by nine bonv rings, which 

 hinge into each other so neatly that the animal 



and furtive. It does not show any high marks 

 of intelligence, but its chief propensity is to bur- 

 row. " In \'enezuela," says Dr. Hornaday, " I 

 found it burrowing on the open savannas, going 

 down about four feet, in a hole seven inches in 

 diameter. The flesh of this creature is well- 

 flavored, and is generally esteemed as palatable 

 food. Being in a state of perpetual hunger, we 

 found Armadillo stew very much to our taste. 

 In captivity its food is milk, boiled eggs, and 

 chopped meat, hut in a wild state it feeds upon a 

 mixed diet of worms, ants, snails, beetles, small 

 lizards, grasshoppers, and other insects. The 

 young in a litter vary from six to ten." 



