THE PICHICIAGO. 199 



the base, and forming spiral or crescent-shaped lines 

 throughout the rest of its length. The claws are large 

 and powerful, but in their relative form and dimensions 

 differ little from those of the tatouay already described. 

 (Fig. 124.) 



This species inhabits Brazil and the northern parts of 

 Paraguay. It is never found in the open country, but 

 keeps close to the great forests, and burrows with sur- 

 prising facility. Those who are employed in collecting 

 the Jesuits' bark frequently meet with it in the woods, 

 and report that, when any of their companions happen to 

 die at a distance from the settlements, they are obliged 

 to surround the body with a double row of stout planks, 

 to prevent it from being scratched up and devoured by 

 the great armadillo. 



Genus Chlamypliorus : 



The Pichiciago {Chlamypliorus truncatus). 



This extraordinary little creature, though scarcely six 

 inches in length, is formed on the plan of the utmost 

 strength and solidity, being destined for burrowing habits. 

 It is a native of Chili, where, like a mole, it works out 

 galleries in the rich soil of the valleys, living for the 

 most part underground in quiet seclusion. So rare is 

 this animal, that it is regarded by the natives as a curio- 

 sity. Its food, so far as we are assured by its dentition 

 and the imperfect accounts collected, consists of insects 

 and larvae : night probably is the season of its activity, 

 and of its unfrequent visits to the " upper world." 



The appearance of the pichiciago reminds us of the 

 armadillos, for it is covered above by a shell, not how- 

 ever of very hard consistence, nor very thick, but of a 

 texture between horn and leather. This shield-like 

 plate commences on the head and extends over the back 

 and haunches, over which latter, it dips down quite 

 abruptly and perpendicularly, so as* to make it seem as if 

 the body was cut off abruptly at its hinder part. It is 

 divided by intersecting furrows into a series of bands or 

 strips, each strip being itself made up of fifteen or twenty 

 plates of a square form, except on the head, which is 



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