190 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



the true ant-eaters. Nature, it is true, has not provided 

 them with the same apparatus for this purpose, but the 

 armadillos may, notwithstanding, destroy vast quantities 

 of ants, though it is probable that they expel them from 

 their own peculiar districts as much at least by destroying 

 the habitations as by actually devouring the insects them- 

 selves. The ordinary food of the armadillos consists 

 chiefly of the roots of the manioc, of potatoes, maize, and 

 other similar substances of a vegetable nature, though, 

 as already observed, without rejecting animal substances 

 naturally soft or so far decomposed as to be easily torn 

 without the help of canine teeth. They are also very 

 destructive to the eggs and young of such birds as build 

 their nests on the ground, and greedily devour worms, 

 frogs, small lizards, and, M. Azara says, even vipers. 

 The chief animal food of the armadillos, however, is de- 

 rived from the immense herds of wild cattle which cover 

 the plains and savannas of every part of South America. 

 These are rarely slaughtered but for the sake of the hide 

 and tallow ; and as the carcases !are left to rot on the 

 pampas, or plains, the smell soon attracts vast crowds of 

 carnivorous animals of various species, and, among others, 

 great numbers of armadillos, which greedily devour the 

 half-putrid flesh, and soon become extremely fat and cor- 

 pulent. In this condition, notwithstanding the filthy 

 nature of their food, their flesh is esteemed a great deli- 

 cacy, both by the native Indians and by the Portuguese 

 and Spaniards of America. The animal is roasted in its 

 shell, and considered one of the greatest dainties which 

 the country produces. 



The armadillos see butindifferently, particularly in bright 

 sunshiny weather ; but their sense of hearing is extremely 

 acute, and amply compensates for any imperfection of 

 sight. When alarmed by any unusual or strange sound, 

 they prick up their ears, stop for a moment to satisfy 

 themselves of its distance and direction, then commence 

 a precipitate retreat to their burrow, or, if that be too 

 remote, begin to construct a new one. Smell is, however, 

 by far the most acute of their senses. 



It is generally believed that the female armadillo 



