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. 
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. 

