200 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY Or MAMMALIA. 



125. — Extremity and Tail of Pichiciago. 



covered with a single plate composed of a mosaic-work 

 of rounded and irregular portions, and the perpendicular 

 haunch-plate, which is also tesselated. This horny 

 covering or shield is not fixed by the whole of its inferior 

 surface to the integuments beneath, as is the case with 

 the armadillo ; but merely rests on the back, free 

 throughout, " excepting along the spine of the back and 

 top of the head ; being attached to the back, immediately 

 above the spine, by a loose cuticular production, and by 

 two remarkable bony processes on the top of the os 

 frontis (bone of forehead), by means of two large plates 

 which are nearly incorporated with the bone beneath ; 

 but for this attachment, and the tail being firmly curved 

 beneath the belly, the covering would be very easily de- 



