The Armadillos 



(nine on the sides), which hinge one to the other so as to 

 permit of the animal rolling itself into a ball. Front of the 

 head, fore-feet and tail similarly armoured, toes of fore-feet 

 with large claws for digging. Colour brownish-black above, 

 somewhat varied with yellow, below yellowish white, skin 

 on sides of face flesh colour with a few scattered yellow 

 hairs. (Illustration facing p. 28.) 

 Range. Southern 'Texas and Mexico southward to Paraguay. 



Covered from end to end with his bony armament the ar- 

 madillo at once recalls the box tortoise; and his sudden transfor- 

 mation, when harassed, into a round ball of horny plates reminds 

 one not a little of the snapping shut of the shell of the turtle. 



The armadillo is an habitual digger, making his burrows in 

 the dry soil of the arid regions in which he lives and ventur- 

 ing forth mainly by night. In the matter of food he is not parti- 

 cular, vegetable and animal matter both appear on his bill of 

 fare and carrion forms no small part of his diet, while the insects 

 and maggots which it attracts- are not overlooked. 



The range of the armadillo within our borders is restricted 

 and he is really more of a Mexican than an American, being 

 one of a number of curious animals that push their way over 

 our south-western boundary from that interesting country. 



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