THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, 5- 



not be very agreeable to children who are accustomed to 

 seek the downy pillow. When the " dustman comes in 

 their eyes" they take their place at the fork of a tree, 

 their arms embracing the trunk, their back resting upon 

 the angle of the branch, and the head bending forward 

 upon the chest, buried in the long hair, or rather wool, of 

 the chest, and so protected from the numerous insects 

 which would thus attack it. 



Flesh or Insect-eating Edentata may be divided into 

 the Loricata, or shielded animals, and the true Edentata. 



The shielded animals comprehend the Armadillo and 



Fig. 22. 



THE ARMADILLO. 



its relations. This animal is covered, with a series of 

 shields, made of a horny substance, which form bands 

 over the back, so that it can move with all the freedom 

 it requires. Armadillos are famous diggers, their claws 

 being large and strong, and they dig such deep holes, 

 and hold so fast to them, that they have been known to 

 leave their tails in the hands of hunters, who have thus 

 caught them, and who have thought that now they have 

 them quite safely ; and when unable to get to their holes, 

 they roll themselves up like a ball, defended entirely by 

 their coat of armour. Their teeth are not very strong, but 

 they do not require such, their food consisting chiefly of 

 insects, worms, and fallen fruits, It has already been 



