ARMADILLO. 167 



the Hairy ( D. villosus), extends from thirty-six 

 degrees of south latitude, to Patagonia ; the Giant 

 Armadillo CD. giganteits), seldom quits the forests 

 of northern Paraguay. And, as one animal is con- 

 signed to the hill, another to the valley, a third to 

 marshy places, a fourth to sterile regions, so the nature 

 of the Armadillo is to hurrow in sand-hills, like the 

 rabbit. Much time is required to dig him out, and, 

 therefore, the Indians carefully examine the mouth of 

 the hole which is supposed to contain him, and then 

 thrust down a stick. If a number of musquitoes 

 immediately come forth, they know that it contains 

 an Armadillo ; but if there are no musquitoes, the 

 hole is empty. When this is ascertained, the In- 

 dians introduce a long and slender wand into the 

 opening, observe the direction in which it goes, and 

 remove the sand. They then push the stick still 

 further, throw out more sand, and thus proceed till 

 they come up with the inhabitant, which has, mean- 

 while, been exerting all its strength to make a new 

 passage in the sand, and is often found in an ex- 

 hausted state. Three-quarters of a day is frequently 

 employed in digging out one Armadillo, and half-a- 

 dozen pits are sometimes opened, before the inmate 

 can be dislodged. Yet, however exhausted, he 

 never forgets to defend his liberty. Those who 

 attack his citadel, must take care how they come 

 in contact with his sharp claws, as with them he 

 can inflict a severe wound, in self-defence. But, 

 when unmolested, he is harmless, and like the hare 

 in Gay's Fables, 



His care is never to offend, 

 And every creature is his friend. 



