194 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



bands on the back. Of all [the armadillos, the mataco 

 is the only one which can assume the complete figure of 

 a ball, enclosing the head and legs; and this faculty, 

 together with the strength of the skull, appears the 

 more necessary, as it does not burrow, its limbs being 

 feeble, and its claws little adapted for scratching up the 

 ground. It is diurnal in its habits, and slow in its move- 

 ments. It is a native of the pampas of Buenos Ayres ; 

 the tail is short, not much exceeding two inches in length, 

 while tlie head and body measure nearly fifteen inches. 

 (Fig. 121.) Rolled up in its tesselated shell, it is safe 

 from the attacks of dogs ; " For the dog," says Mr. Dar- 

 win, " not being able to take the whole in its mouth, tries 

 to bite one side, and the ball slips away. ■ The smooth 

 hard covering of the mataco offers a better defence than 

 the sharp pines of the hedgehog." A shell of this 

 species, which formed the cup of a cacique, is in the 

 Mus. Zool. Soc. 



The Poyou, or Weasel-headed Armadillo 



{Dasi/ptis encoiibert, Desm.). 



This Armadillo belongs to Cuvier's section termed 

 Encouherts : it is very common in Paraguay, and bur- 

 rows in the ground with almost incredible celerity. 

 Its strength and activity are very remarkable, and, not- 

 withstanding the shortness of its legs, few men can over- 

 take it. It is of a restless unquiet disposition, inquisitive, 

 and ^confident ; and when any noise is made at the 

 entrance of its burrow, it is said to come fearlessly forth 

 to investigate the cause. Its voice is a low grunt, like 

 that of a young pig. These animals live solitary or in 

 pairs, and haunt wooded districts, where they excavate 

 very deep burrows ; when danger threatens, they carry 

 on their mining operations, rendering it difficult to dig 

 them out. They feed upon melons, potatoes, and other 

 vegetables ; but also to a great extent upon carrion ; the 

 natives nevertheless eat the flesh of this species without 

 any repugnance. When it stops or rests on the ground, 

 it has a habit of squatting like a hare in her form, and 



