270 



THE TAMANOIE. 



The food of the Armadillo is nearly as varied as that of the swine, 

 for there are few eatable siibstauces, whether vegetable or animal, 

 which it will not devour, provided they are not too hard for its 

 little teeth. Various- roots, potatoes, and maize are among its articles 

 of vegetable diet, and it will also eat eggs, worms, insects, and small 

 reptiles of every description. Whenever wild cattle are slain the Ar- 

 madillo is sure to make its appearance in a short time for the purpose 

 of devouring the offal which the hunter leaves on the ground. It is 

 not at all particular in taste, and devours the half-putrid remains with 

 great eagerness, becoming quite fat on the revolting diet. 



As the Armadillo is a nocturnal animal, its eyes are more fitted for 

 the dark than for the bright glare of sunlight, which dazzles the crea- 

 ture and sadly bewilders it. If it should be detected on the surface of 

 the ground, and its retreat intercepted before it can regain its hole, the 

 Armadillo rolls itself up as best it can, and, tucking its head under the 

 chest, draws in its legs and awaits the result. Even when taken in 

 hand it is not without a last resource, for it kicks so violently with 

 its powerful legs that it can inflict severe lacerations with the sharp 

 claws. 



The Ant-eaters, as their name imports, feed very largely on ants, 

 as well as on termites and various other insects, their long flexible 

 tongue acting as a hand for the purpose of conveying food into the 

 mouth. The tongue of the Ant-eater, when protruded to its fullest 

 extent, bears some resemblance to a great earth-worm, and as it is em- 

 ployed in its food-collecting task it coils and twists about as if it pos- 

 sessed a separate vitality of its own. 



The Tamanoir, or Great Ant-eater, or Akt Bear, is entirely 

 destitute of teeth, possesses a wonderfully elongated and narrow head, 



and is thickly cover- 

 ed with long coarse 

 hair, w^hich on the 

 tail forms a heavy 

 plume. The color of 

 this animal is brown, 

 washed with gray on 

 the head and face, 

 and interspersed 

 with pure white hairs 

 The Tamanoir, OR Ant Bear (i)%rmecop/ia^a>6ato). OQ ^jjg }-jead body 



and tail. The throat is black, and a long triangular black mark arises 

 from the throat und passes obliquely over the shoulders. There are 

 four toes on the fore-feet, and five on the hinder. In total length it 

 measures between six and seven feet, the tail being about two feet six 

 inches long. 



