170 TOOTHLESS MAMMALS 



seldom seen in captivity. It is the giant armadillo of north- 

 eastern South America. 



The Three-Banded Armadillo, 1 of Argentina, repre- 

 sents the highest degree of perfection attained, either past or 

 present, by any member of the Family. 



Its shell is very strong, and so perfect is its mechanism 

 that when the animal is in danger, it makes of itself a round 

 ball, so completely incased in horn that no four-footed enemy 

 can penetrate it. Even the top of the head is protected by a 

 shield, which acts as a shutter when the animal rolls up and 

 wishes to close the only opening leading into the shell. It 

 gives one a very queer sensation to handle one of these living 

 nuts, and note the marvellous ingenuity in design and skill 

 in mechanical execution which has been displayed in provid- 

 ing this special means of protection for an otherwise defence- 

 less creature. 



Having such excellent defensive armor, the Three-Banded 

 Armadillo does not often burrow in the ground, and it ranges 

 freely by daylight. In running it touches only the ends of 

 its claws to the ground, and the shell is held high. The head- 

 and-body length of the adult animal is about 14 inches, and 

 the tail measures 3^ inches. 



The Nine-Banded Armadillo 2 ranges all the way from 

 southern Texas and Arizona to Paraguay, and along the Rio 

 Grande is so common that living specimens are sold at $2 

 each. In Venezuela I found it burrowing on the open sa- 

 vannas, going down about four feet, in a hole seven inches 

 in diameter. The flesh of this creature is well flavored and 



1 Das'y-pus tri-cinc'tus. 2 Ta'tu no'vem-cinc'tum. 



