SLOTHS, ANT-EATERS, AND ARMADILLOS. 185 



placed close together and the claws are of nearly equal length, they 

 collectively form a hook-like organ not unlike the foot of a sloth. Prom the 

 other ant-eaters this species differs in the uniformly foxy-red hue of the short 

 silky fur. In its skeleton it differs from the other two members of the group 

 in possessing collar-bones, in which respect this species once again 

 approximates to the sloths. In other ant-eaters the ribs are unusually 

 broad, but in the present species this character is so exaggerated that they 

 almost come into contact with one another, and thus nearly enclose the 

 body in a solid bony casque. Thoroughly arboreal in its mode of life, and 

 furnished with a highly prehensile tail, the two-clawed ant-eater is restricted 

 to the hottest regions of America, ranging from Northern Brazil through 

 Peru and the Guianas to Central America. 



The development of a bony shield composed of isolated plates welded 

 together by their edges, or overlapping like tiles on a roof over moro or less 

 of the upper surface of the body, serves to differentiate the 

 armadillos and their tiny relative the pichiago not only Armadillos, 

 from all other existing edentates, but likewise from other 

 mammals. All these animals collectively constitute the family Dasypodidce, 

 which is sufficiently distinguished by the aforesaid bony armour. In ordinary 

 armadillos the armour is divided into two solid shields, one of which pro.- 

 tects the shoulders, and the other the haunches, while between these are a 

 variable number of movable transverse bands, permitting the animal to bend 

 its back to a smaller or greater extent, and in one case even allowing the 

 assumption of a completely ball-like form. Both in the front and hind 

 shield the constituent plates are polygonal in form, and articulate with one 

 another immovably by their edges ; but in the movable bands they are tile- 

 like and overlapping. The fixed shields and movable bands collectively 

 constitute the carapace. The component plates are marked by a characteristic 

 sculpture, which varies much in the different genera, and may consist either 

 of raised pustules or minute punctures ; and each plate is overlaid by a thin 

 horny shield. More or less abundant hairs grow from the skin at the junction 

 of the plates of the carapace ; and occasionally these are so abundant and 

 luxuriant as practically to conceal the latter from view. A small shield 

 of polygonal bony plates, with their edges in apposition, serves to 

 protect the upper surface of the head ; while the tail is usually 

 defended by a similar type of armour, which may either take the form of 

 oblique rows of plates or tubercles, or of a series of rings of gradually 

 decreasing diameter, severally composed of the same plates. Irregular bony 

 plates likewise protect the short and powerful limbs, of which the front pair 

 are provided with strong claws adapted for digging. In the fore-limbs the 

 claws may vary in number from three to five, whereas the much smaller and 

 weaker ones of the hind-foot are always the latter number. Armadillos 

 have moderately long and more or less depressed heads, sharply pointed 

 in front, and armed with a rather small number of simple peg-like teeth. 

 They have long tails, fully developed collar-bones ; and the bones of the 

 arm and fore-arm are specially expanded and modified for the purpose 

 of digging. Their tongues, although relatively long, have not the extreme 

 elongation characterising the ant-eaters. Armadillos have a much more 

 extensive geographical range than either of the preceding families of edentates, 

 ranging from Patagonia to Central America, and one species at least reaching 

 as far northwards as Texas. Although different species or genera are confined 

 to different localities and situations, members of the group are to- be met with 



