WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 193 



and slender stick, and introduces it into the hole : 

 he carefully observes the line the stick takes, and 

 then sinks a pit in the sand to catch the end of 

 it : this done, he puts it farther into the hole, and 

 digs another pit, and so on, till at last he comes 

 up with the armadillo, which had been making 

 itself a passage in the sand till it had ex- 

 hausted all its strength through pure exertion. 

 I have been sometimes three quarters of a day 

 in digging out one armadillo, and obliged to sink 

 half a dozen pits, seven feet deep, before I got up 

 to it. The Indians and negroes are very fond of 

 the flesh, but I considered it strong and rank. 



On laying hold of the armadillo you must be 

 cautious not to come in contact with his feet : they 

 are armed with sharp claws, and with them he 

 will inflict a severe wound in self-defence: when 

 not molested, he is very harmless and innocent; 

 he would put you in mind of the hare in Gay's 

 fables, — 



"Whose care was never to offend, 

 And every creature vpas her friend. ' ' 



The armadillo swims well in time of need, but 

 does not go into the water by choice. He is very 

 seldom seen abroad during the day; and when 

 surprised, he is sure to be near the mouth of his 

 hole. Every part of the armadillo is well pro- 

 tected by his shell, except his ears. In life, this 

 shell is very limber, so that the animal is enabled 

 to go at full stretch, or roll himself up into a 

 ball, as occasion may require. 



On inspecting the arrangement of the shell, it 

 puts vou very much in mind of a coat of armour ; 



13*^ 



