432 THE ARMADILLO. 



tlieiii, is a iiiei'e i)igiiiy. These creatures abound in all parts 

 <jf the continent, fiom Paraguay to Venezuela ; Init, incased as 

 they are in coats of complete armour, and running so quickly, 

 and so rapidly digging into the earth, they can rarely be over- 

 taken by the hunter. 



The armadillo (Dasypus) belongs to the ordei- of Edentata. 

 The armour, which covers the whole body, consists of a tri- 

 angular plate on the top of the head, a large buckler over the 

 shoulders, and a similar one covering the haunches ; while be- 

 tween the solid portions a series of transverse bands intervene 

 in such a manner as to allow the creature to move its body in 

 a variety of postures. The tail is likewise covered with a 

 series of calcareous rings. It can, in consequence of this 

 })eculiar conformation of its covering, roll itself up, like the 

 hedgehog, into a ball, and thus present a solid surface, imper- 

 vious to the attacks of birds of prey or small quadrupeds. 

 The part over the shell is covered with short hairs, which 

 appear between the joints of the armour. It has a pointed 

 snout, long ears, thick, short limbs, and powerful claws. With 

 these claws it burrows with extraordinary rapidity, and can 

 inflict severe wounds. 



The common armadillo, or the poyou, is about twenty inches 

 in lengtli, including the tail. As its hearing is very acute, 

 and it never ventures far from its home during the day- 

 time, it easily escapes the attacks of its foes, with the exce})- 

 tion of man. It readily takes to the water when pursued, and 

 swims well, but does not enter it by choice. The Indian 

 hunter, however, attacks the creature with a skill it cannot 

 escape. 



It is a curious fact that mosquitoes often inhabit the bur- 

 rows of the armadillo. The Indian, knowing this, as soon as 



