THE GIANT ARMADILLO THE BALL ARMADILLOS 159 



Most of the Armadillos are much like the Hairy species in general 

 appearance, and few are any larger, but some especially remarkable 

 species deserve notice. 



THE GIANT ARMADILLO 



(Priodon gigas) 



THE Giant Armadillo, as its name implies, is much larger than any 

 other Armadillo, for it even exceeds a yard in length. In general 

 structure it resembles the common Hairy Armadillo, but the armour 

 bands across the back, between the shoulder- and hip-shields, are more 

 numerous, about a dozen in all, and the feet are somewhat different, 

 the hind toes being very short, with short nails, while the middle toe 

 of the fore-foot is enlarged at the expense of the other four, and bears 

 an enormous claw. Strangely enough in an " Edentate " animal, the 

 teeth are very numerous indeed, being about two dozen on either side 

 of each jaw, a number unequalled in any beast except some of the 

 Cetaceans. This Armadillo inhabits the Brazilian forests, feeding on 

 insects and carrion ; it bears a bad name as a violator of graves, and 

 probably deserves it its great claws are quite equal to any feat of the 

 kind, and its appetite sufficiently accommodating. 



THE BALL ARMADILLOS 



THESE curious little animals (Tolypeutes} have the shoulder- and hip- 

 shields very well developed, but only three cross-bands between them ; 

 they can roll themselves up like Hedgehogs, and when thus contracted 

 form perfect balls, the head and short tail fitting neatly into crevices. 

 They are not less remarkable when running about, for the fore-feet 

 have a huge middle claw on the tip alone of which they tread, while 

 on the hind-feet the three middle claws are enlarged, and support that 

 part of the body, though not absolutely on their tips. Three species 

 of these Armadillos are known, and two of these have been exhibited 

 at our Zoological Gardens. 



THE PICHICIAGO 



(Chlamydophorus truncatus) 



THIS quaint little creature, which differs much more from the other 

 Armadillos than these do amongst themselves, is a sort of armour-plated 



