340 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



The bony armour is disposed over the crown of the head, back, and flanks. It is made up 

 of numerous small, bony plates, buried deep in the skin, and each overlaid by a horny scale. 

 The tail is protected by bony rings. The plates covering the shoulders and those directly over 

 the hindquarters fuse into a solid mass, thus forming chambers into which the limbs can be 

 withdrawn. In the region of the body, between these two shields, the plates are arranged in 

 rows encircling the body, thus permitting the animal to roll itself up as occasion may require. 

 Hairs grow out between the plates, and in some cases give the anirnal quite a furry appearance. 

 Speaking of the burrowing powers of the armadillo, Darwin, in his most fascinating "Voyage 

 of the Beagle," tells us that " the instant one was perceived, it was 

 necessary, in order to catch it, almost to tumble off one's horse ; for 

 in soft soil the animal burrowed so quickly that its hinder quarters 

 would almost disappear before one could alight. It seems almost a pity 

 to kill such nice little animals ; for as a Gaucho said, while sharpening 

 his knife on the back of one, 'Son tan mansos" (They are so quiet)." 

 As a rule, armadillos are regarded as animals loving dry, sandy wastes; 

 nevertheless, they are said to be able to swim both well and swiftly. 

 The flesh of the armadillo is apparently by no means unpalatable. 



THE PICHICIAGO 



One of the most remarkable of the armadillos is the PlCMlClAOO, or 

 FAIRY ARMADILLO. It is a tiny creature of some 5 inches long, found in 

 the sandy wastes of the western part of the Argentine Republic. The 

 horny covering of the bony plates is pinkish colour, and the hair is 

 silky in texture and snow-white. But it is not on this 

 account that the fairy armadillo is remarkable: its claim 

 to notoriety rests on the peculiar arrangement of the 

 bony plates constituting the armour. These bony plates 

 are small and thin, and covered, as in other species, with 

 a horny coat; but instead of being embedded in the 

 skin, they are attached only along the middle of 

 the back, and project freely over the body on either 

 side, leaving a space between the shield and the 

 body. The hinder end of the body is specially 

 protected by a nearly circular vertical shield, firmly 

 fixed to the hip-girdle. This shield, it is said, is 

 used as a plug to fill up its burrow with. 



Phett t>j A. S. Rudiand & Sent 



TWO-TOED ANT-EATER 



Although the fore feet have four toes, only the second and third 

 bear claivs , hence the name ' ' Tiuo-toed ' ' Ant-eater 



THE PELUDO 



Armadillos of the normal type, wherein the body 

 armour is embedded in the skin, are represented by 

 numerous species. Of one, known as the PELUDO, 

 Mr. Hudson has given us some interesting details. " It feeds," he tells us, " not only upon insects, 

 but also upon vegetable matter, eggs, young birds, and carrion. Its method of capturing mice 

 was certainly ingenious. It hunted by smell, and when nearing its prey became greatly agitated. 

 The exact spot discovered, the body was raised slowly to a sitting posture, and then flung 

 suddenly forwards, so that the mouse or nest of mice was imprisoned beneath, and promptly 

 dispatched." " Still more remarkable," says Air. Lydekker, " is the manner in which a peludo 

 has been observed to kill a snake, by rushing upon it and proceeding to saw the unfortunate 

 reptile in pieces by pressing upon it closely with the jagged edges of its armour, and at the 

 same time moving its body backwards and forwards. The struggles of the snake were all in 

 vain, as its fangs could make no impression upon the panoply of its assailant, and eventually 

 the reptile slowly dropped and died, to be soon afterwards devoured by the armadillo, which 

 commenced the meal by seizing the snake's tail in its mouth, and gradually eating forwards." 



