70 LECTURE III. 



tion. The long zones or divisions, covering the 

 upper part of the body, differ in number in the 

 different species, and thus afford a good general 

 character of distinction. The most common spe- 

 cies is the Dasypus novem-cmctus, or nine-banded 

 Armadillo. All the Armadillos are natives of 

 South America, where they reside in dry and 

 rocky places, and have the faculty of burrowing 

 under ground. They wander about chiefly by 

 night, and devour various kinds of roots and 

 grain: they also prey on worms and insects; and 

 when in a state of captivity, will readily eat ani- 

 mal food, and that in considerable quantities. 

 The side-teeth or grinders are numerous, but they 

 have neither canine nor front-teeth. They are of 

 a perfectly innocent and inoffensive nature. The 

 largest species known is the twelve-banded Arma- 

 dillo, which arrives at the length of four feet from 

 the snout to the tip of the tail : all the rest are 

 of a much smaller size, measuring noif more 

 than a foot in body, exclusive of the tail. The 

 general colour of Armadillos in a living state 

 seems to be brown, but some are of a very pale 

 or yellowish brown cast ; and all, in a natural state, 

 have the shelly or bony armour covered with a 



