ARMADILLO 



Color. — Sexes colored alike, no seasonal variation. 



Shell-like structures mottled brownish and yellowish white; 

 scattering hairs yellowish. 



Measurements. — Sexes of equal size. Total length, 32 

 inches; tail vertebra, 15 inches; hind foot, 4 inches. 



Fig. 121. Armadillo 



Geographical Distribution. — From the Rio Grande of Texas 

 south into Mexico; north to about 33° latitude and west to 

 Devils River. 



Food. — Insects. 



Enemies.— Probably able to defend itself against the small 

 carnivores by rolling up in its armor, but defenseless against 

 Wolves, Coyotes, Bobcats, Cougars, etc. 



:j- ***** * 



But the one form of Armadillo is found north of the Rio 

 Grande; southward the group is a fairly large one. 



The only personal experiences which I have had with 

 Armadillos have been in Ecuador, but I imagine that the 

 behavior of the Nine-banded Armadillo is very much the same 

 wherever you find it. Those that I saw seemed to have very- 

 poor sight and were more disturbed by a heavy or incautious 

 step than by the fact of my visual presence which would have 

 been very obvious to any other mammal. Even the bright 

 light I used in night hunting failed to alarm them and the 

 entire attention of the animals was upon the ground. They 

 moved in jerky, nervous fashion, poking into every hole and 

 giving the impression of an energetic busybody. When 

 finally alarmed they ran full speed, with a great commotion 

 of brush and foliage. They are active mostly at night. 



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