J42 Description of the Chlamyphorus truncatus. 



plate upon the forehead. 2d. A vast shield, situate upon the 

 shoulders, and formed of small rectangular compartments, dis- 

 posed in transverse bands. 3d. In bands of similar plates, 

 but moveable, and varying in number, from three to twelve 

 more or less, according to the species. 4th. In a shield upon 

 the rump, very similar to that on the shoulders. 5th. In rings 

 more or less numerous on the tail ; five toes behind ; before 

 sometimes five, at others four ; hairs sparse. The whole shell 

 is covered by a thin, transparent epidermis, which is joined to 

 the skin of the belly, which gives to the shell a sinning as- 

 pect, as if it were varnished ; the extremities are entirely 

 covered with strong scales. The armadillo burrows in the 

 earth; is sufficiently quick in its motions ; is capable of roll- 

 ing its body into the form of a ball ; and is omnivorous. 

 The external ear is sometimes large, and always very appa- 

 rent. 



From this statement, we are convinced that there exists 

 only the most distant analogy in the external covering of the 

 Dasypus with that of the new genus ; other analogies, which 

 are found in the comparison of the skulls, will be referred to 

 hereafter. 



The lower portions of our animal, as well as that beneath 

 the scales, will bear a pretty close comparison with the same 

 parts of the mole, (Talpa Europea, (Lin.) white variety.) 

 The hair is finer and longer than in the mole, and at a distance 

 resembles long staple cotton in appearance. The eye is small ; 

 the neck, breast, and shoulders, are very powerful ; the poste- 

 rior extremities are short and weak ; the anterior, short and 

 strong, and furnished with large claws, as in the mole ; but 

 in the form of the head, in the structure and form of the 

 claws, in the external ear, which is apparent when the hair is 

 separated, our animal is totally dissimilar to the mole. The 

 claws bear some analogy to the sloth, (Bradypus, Lin.) but 

 are articulated to the last phalanx, as in the mole. Like the 

 last named animal, the organs of generation must have open- 



