SOME TOOTHLESS MAMMALS 



51 



pet, continually running about the room, and not resisting 

 when picked up. Stranger than all else, it paid not the 

 slightest attention to its young. When I took them away, it 

 appeared not to notice the loss, and when they were re- 

 turned, no demonstration was made. This peculiarity was 

 so marked that I was 



convinced that the 

 animal had little af- 

 fection for its young. 



The little arma- 

 dillos were interest- 

 ing creatures, their 

 armor being soft like 

 rubber. They were 

 very active and play- 

 ful, and it required 

 several hours to pho- 

 tograph the group, 

 as they were contin- 

 ually running about. 



The armor on the 

 adults is arranged in 

 three different re- 

 gions. One shield 

 protects the head, 

 another the shoulders, still another the back of the body, 

 while between them are bands, which, while they work 

 freely, are protective. The tail and feet are also protected. 



The three-banded armadillo has a very clumsy walk. 

 When alarmed, it immediately drops to the ground and 

 rolls itself in a ball (Fig. 37), almost impervious to any 



Fig. 37. — Armadillos rolled up to escape 

 THE Puma. 



