14 TRICIIOLOGIA MAMMALIUM; 



CHAPTER I. 



PART II. 



OF THE MANTLE AND HAIR-LIKE PROCESSES OF THE ARMADILLO. This animal, instead 

 of being covered with pile, has his body protected by a mantle, out of the divisions of which 

 issue hair-like processes. 



This mantle we have heretofore particularly described,* but it will be necessary to 

 recur briefly to the buckler. This is composed of unequal sided hexagons and parallelo- 

 grams, the internal structure of the latter of which is represented in figure 7, where it will 

 be seen that the main arterial trunk, A., lies horizontally, communicating with the interior 

 of the armor by a foramen situated near the end of the parallelogram towards the 

 hexagons. This main trunk divides, successively, into five horizontal limbs ; four of 

 which, viz : 1, 2, 3 and 4, after anastomosing, terminate near the other end of the parallelo- 

 gram in as many fusiform follicles, B., from each of which emerges, horizontally, a hair, or 

 hair-like process, C. The fifth limb, No. 5, inclines abruptly to one side of the 

 parallelogram, and after a much shorter course, comparatively, terminates in an orbicular 

 capsule, D., from which, through a foramen communicating with the anterior surface, 

 iss\ies, vertically, another hair, or hair-like process, invested with a sheath, e. Besides 

 these five limbs, there are six branches. Four of these, i. e. two on each side, issue out of 

 the main trunk, below its first limb-fork. These subdivide into numerous twigs, which 

 do not anastomose. From limb No. 4, about half way beyond its fork, is another and the 

 largest branch of all, 7. This anastomoses with the limb, and divides into numerous 

 twigs, but does not terminate in either a follicle or capsule. The limb on the opposite side, 

 No. 1, above its fork, has four branches, 8, which do not anastomose or terminate in either 

 follicle or capsule, but divides into numerous twigs. Between limbs Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, 

 are three interfolical vessels, 9. These anastomose with the follicles, and open out at the 

 end of the parallelogram. 



Some of the anastomosing vessels empty into culs de sac, o, approaching, in dimensions, 

 almost to that of the main trunk. These are generally situated at, or near, the root of a 

 follicle, and may be reservoirs. 



Each of the above mentioned vessels may be, and probably is, accompanied by an artery 

 and vein ; for the animal possesses the power of repairing and re-producing injured or lost 

 plates ; we have examined a specimen of an Apara that bears the marks of that operation 

 having been performed. 



Description of the hairs and hair-like processes. Greatest length 2 inches and T V 

 Shapes, cylindrical and oval. Diameters, some T | T , others T {^ by Jj, ^-^ by -Jj, and 

 others again T ^ by ^. Color, corneus. Lustre, feeble. Direction at an acute angle. 

 Inclination, straight. 



* In a pamphlet published in 1848. 



