THE MATACO. 



193 



Allied to the peba is the mule armadillo {Dasypus 

 hybriclus^ Desm.), called M. Courigua, or Mule Tatu, 

 by the Guaranis, in allusion to its long upright ears. It 

 is of smaller size than the peba, and its tail is compara- 

 tively shorter. It wanders by day over the plains, feed- 

 ing on beetles, larvae, roots, &c. ; differing from the 

 peba in being diurnal in its habits. It is common on 

 the pampas of Buenos Ayres. 



The Mataco {Dasypus apar^. 



This species is an example of Cuvier's group of apars. 

 The Mataco, or Bolita (little ball) as it is sometimes 

 called, has its shell of defence extremely hard and solid, 

 forming an admirable coat of mail. It has only three 



121.— Mataco. 



