118 EDENTATA. 



itat is the tropical and temperate portions of South America. Of 

 the nine or ten species, we particularize 



1. Dasypus Peba, or D. novemcinctus, (Lat. nine-banded.) 

 The PEBA or BLACK TATTT. PL VI. 



This species, found in Paraguay, Guiana and Brazil, varies in 

 the numbers of its bands, so that it is sometimes called D. octo- 

 cinctus, (Lat. eight-banded,) and D. septemcinctus, (Lat. seven- 

 banded.) Its length, from the snout to the tail, is sixteen inches ; 

 that of the tail is fourteen inches, and its circumference at the 

 base, six inches. It is much hunted on account of the delicacy 

 of its flesh, which when roasted in the shell, is fat and well tasted ; 

 said to resemble that of a sucking-pig. Of individuals of this 

 species, found in the Zoological Gardens of England, it is re- 

 marked, "they are fed on vegetable diet, and appear to be in ex- 

 cellent health. During the summer, they are allowed the liberty 

 of a little paddock, where, by the singularity of their actions, they 

 attract a crowd of spectators, and come in for a share of the in- 

 terest excited by the gambols of their fellow countrymen, the 

 Spider Monkeys." (Martin's Quadrupeds.) 



D. Apar. The MATACO. 



The animals of this species are distinguishable from all others 

 of the genus, by "the faculty which they possess of rolling them- 

 selves up like a hedgehog, into a round ball, in which situation 

 they may be tumbled about, or even, it is said, thrown over preci- 

 pices, without receiving any material injury." They are, how- 

 ever, less common than some of the other species. 



D. gigas, (Lat. a giant.) The GREAT ARMADILLO. 



This species have unequal toes and enormous claws, but what 

 most distinguishes the animals of this group, is their possession of 

 from eighty-eight to ninety-six teeth, a number greater than is 

 found in any other mammal. (PI. VI. fig. 6.) 



The Great Armadillo is about three and one-quarter feet long, 

 from the nose to the tail, which is one foot, five inches. It is sep- 

 arated from the other species of this genus, not only by its supe- 

 rior size, but by various remarkable characteristics. Its head is 

 proportionably smaller ; the forehead more protuberant ; the face 

 rather cylindrical in form, like that of the Peba; the ears are 

 not very large, pointed, and crouched backwards; the bucklers 

 of the shoulders and croup have nine and eighteen rows of 

 plates respectively, and are separated by movable bands to the 

 number. of twelve or thirteen, formed of rectangular scales, about 

 half an inch square. At the root, the tail is as much as ten inch- 

 es in circumference, and covered with ring plates, at the base, 

 and with crescent-shaped lines'throughout the rest of its length. 



