THE ARMADILLO'S PROTECTIVE ARMOR 169 



tion from their numerous enemies. The body is incased in 

 a hard shell, composed of small plates of bone very cunningly 

 joined together, which covers every portion save the breast 

 and abdomen. 



The head is protected by a plate placed on its upper 

 surface, and the tail is incased in a chain of bony rings. When 

 attacked by a savage animal, the armadillo tucks its legs 

 under the edge of the shell alongside its body, rolls into a ball, 

 and as nearly as possible leaves nothing exposed save its shell. 

 The creature thus becomes a living nut, that is not to be 

 cracked and eaten by every enemy that comes along. 



If the shell is strong enough, the armadillo is safe; but 

 if it is not strong and hard, or entirely perfect as an en- 

 velope, a jaguar or puma may possibly kill the animal and 

 devour it. 



The armadillos with the weakest armor have found it 

 wise to avoid the forest home of the jaguar and puma, and 

 live on the open plains, where they are less liable to be killed. 

 To enable them to do this, Nature has provided them with 

 long and powerful front claws, with which to dig burrows in 

 the hardest soil. 



It was in Argentina that the great armadillos of the past 

 reached their highest point in size and abundance. Thence 

 smaller species ranged northward, until in southern Texas 

 and Arizona we find the northern limit of the group, and the 

 only species found in the United States. There are three 

 species of armadillos that from time to time appear, alive, 

 in zoological parks, the nine-banded, six-banded and three- 

 banded. The largest species now living is so rare it is very 



