THE AUMMHU.O. 



251 



the inout.li. The ant- [Myrmecophaga) inhabit Smith 



America. 



The pangolins, or species of Minn's (Fig. 288), are mail- 

 clad ant-eaters, the body and long tail being covered with 

 large overlapping scales. When molested they roll up the 

 body. In walking the hind feel resl on i -, while 



th" fore feet arc supported by the upper side uf the long 

 benl claw-. 



The long-tailed pangolin of the West Coast of Afi 

 (Fig 288) tears open with its long claws the i the 



white ants. It is nearly § metre (28-30 inches) in length. 



The armadillos arc small mammals covered with a shell, 

 consisting of from three to thirteen transverse row 



991.— Nine-banded Armadillo. From Ltttkeu - 



movable scales; by rolling into a ball, these singular ■ 

 hires become thoroughly protected from thru- enen 

 Dasypus novem-cinctus (Fi{ . - | is much like the 1' 

 armadillo (Fig. 290), and extends from South America to 

 Texas. The three-banded armadillo (F au roll 



itself into a ball; it is an inhabitant of Brazil, Buenos 

 Avres, and Paraguav. According to Herbert Smith, the 

 armadillos in Southern Brazil burrow in th< of the 



plains, ami the -mailer species tear open the high conical 

 nests of the white ants. •• These nests are almost as hard 

 as brick; the bones and muscle- of the fore feel in the 

 armadillos are specially modified so as to secure great 

 strength for digging, and the large claws are used like 

 miniature picks in boring into the tough clay." [American 

 Naturalist, July, 1883), 



