196 EDENTATA 



and bulb. The uterus is nearly or quite as simple as in the Sloths 

 and Anteaters ; and there is no reason to believe that the placenta- 

 tion is essentially different from that obtaining in the other groups. 

 Subfamily Chlamydophorinse. In most anatomical characters, 

 especially the structure of the fore foot, this little group resembles 

 the Dasypodina ; but it differs remarkably from all other known 

 Armadillos, living or extinct, in the peculiar modification of the 

 dermal armour. 



8 

 Chlamydophorus}- Teeth , subcylindrical, somewhat com- 



o y 



pressed, moderate in size, smaller at each end (especially in front) 

 than at the middle of the series. Skull broad and rounded behind, 

 pointed in front. Muzzle subcylindrical and depressed. A con- 

 spicuous rounded, rough prominence on the frontal bone, just before 

 each orbit. Tympanic prolonged into a tubular auditory meatus, 

 curving upwards round the base of the zygoma. Vertebrae : C 7, 

 D 11, L 3, S 10, C 15. Upper part of head and trunk covered with 

 four-sided horny plates (with very small thin ossifications beneath), 

 forming a shield, free, and overhanging the sides of the trunk, and 

 attached only along the middle line of the back. The plates are 

 arranged in a series of distinct transverse bands, about twenty in 

 number between the occiput and the posterior truncated end, and 

 not divided into solid thoracic and pelvic shields with movable 

 bands between. The hinder end of the body is abruptly truncated 

 and covered by a vertically-placed, strong, solid, bony shield, of an 

 oval (transversely extended) form, covered by thin epidermic plates. 

 This shield is firmly ankylosed by five bony processes to the hinder 

 part of the pelvis. Through a notch in the middle of its lower 

 border the tail passes out. The latter is rather short, cylindrical 

 in its proximal half, and expanded and depressed or spatulate in 

 its terminal portion, and covered with horny plates. The dorsal 

 surfaces of the fore and hind feet are also covered with horny 

 plates. The remainder of the limbs and under surface and sides 

 of the body beneath the overlapping lateral parts of the dorsal 

 shield are clothed with rather long, very soft, silky hair. Eyes and 

 ears very small, and concealed by the hair. Extremities short. 

 Feet large, each with five well-developed claws, those on the fore 

 feet very long, stout, and subcompressed, the structure of the digits 

 being essentially the same as those of Xenurus and Piiodon. Nipples 

 two, pectoral. Visceral anatomy closely resembling that of Dasypus, 

 the caecum being broad, short, and bifid. 



The Pichiciago (C. truncatus), a small burrowing animal, about 

 5 inches long, inhabits the sandy plains of the western part of the 

 Argentine Republic, especially the vicinity of Mendoza. Its 



1 Harlan, Ann. New York Lyceum Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 237 (1824). 

 Amended from Chiamyphorus. 



