THE EARTH-HOGS 501 



burrowing in the earth, which they can do with great rapidity ; 

 and when once the head and fore-feet have penetrated into the 

 ground, their hold is so tenacious that even the strongest 

 man is incapable of dragging them from their hole. 



The Orycteropi, or earth-hogs {Aard-varks) as they are called 

 by the boors, from their habit of burrowing and their fancied re- 

 semblance to small short-legged pigs, have an elongated head, 

 though less tapering than that of the American myrmecophagi, 

 and are provided with peculiarly formed teeth, with a flat crown 

 and undivided root, which is pierced with a multitude of little 

 holes, like those of a ratan-cane when cut transversely, while the 

 ant-bears have no teeth at all. Their way of feeding is the 

 same, and to enable them to retain their nimble-footed prey, 

 their tongue is likewise lubricated with a glutinous liquid. 

 Their flesh is considered very wholesome and palatable, and at 

 the Cape they are frequently hunted both by the colonists and 

 the Hottentots. There are several species, all very much re- 

 sembling each other : their stout body measures about five feet 

 from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail, the latter being 

 nearly half the length of the body. 



The American Armadillos have many points in common 

 with the myrmecophagi, manides, and 

 orycteropi. They have neither fore nor 

 canine teeth, but a number of coni- 

 cal grinders, and are distinguished by 

 having the upper part of their bodies 

 defended by a complete suit of armour, 

 divided into joints or bands, folding one ' ''^^ "^-^/jr^^^^ " ''^^ 

 over the other like the parts of a lobster's ^°y°^ Armadillo. 



tail, so as to accommodate themselves to all the motions of the 

 animal. In life this shell is very limber, so that the armadillo 

 is able to go at full stretch, or to roll himself up into a ball as 

 occasion may require. These animals are very common both 

 in the forests and in the open plains of South America, where 

 they burrow in the sand-holes like rabbits. The armadillo 

 is seldom seen abroad during the day, and when surprised he 

 is sure to be near the mouth of his hole ; but after sunset he 

 sallies forth in search of roots, grain, worms, insects, and other 

 small animals, and when disturbed, coils himself up in his 



