THE ARMADILLO 427 



the Pangolin. It may be that in the dark they are inad- 

 vertently swept up by the viscid tongue ; but it may equally 

 be that they are swallowed purposely to serve as grinders in 

 the gizzard-like stomach. 



The Phatagin (Manis tetraddctyla), a West African species, 

 has a long tail, while the Pangolin of India (Manis 

 penddctyla) has a short one. One of the latter species, 

 kept as a pet, endangered the foundations of the house by 

 its constant burrowing. Desiring to kill it, the owner fired 

 at it with a Colt's revolver. The ball failed to penetrate the 

 armour, only knocking the animal over and causing it 

 to roll itself into a ball. A second shot recoiled upon 

 the firer and bruised him. Eventually he despatched the 

 animal by inserting a dagger between the scales and 

 driving it home with a mallet. 



FAMILY DASYPODID^E (ARMADILLOS). 



ARMADILLO (Dasypus sexcinctus). 



Coloured Plate XXXI. Fig. i. 



There are several species of Armadillo, all of which are 

 found in tropical or sub-tropical America. A description of 

 any one species will practically serve for the whole family. 

 They are comparatively small animals, very distinctively 



SKELETON OF THE ARMADILLO. 



clothed with plates of bony armour, in the centre of the 

 body so arranged as to permit sufficient freedom of move- 

 ment to allow the animal to roll itself up for the protect- 

 tion of the softer under parts. One of the smaller species, 



