ARMADILLOS 



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funnel-like holes with its wedged-shaped head, hundreds of these holes occurring 

 on the pampas. As these holes are somewhat dangerous to the horsemen, the 

 armadillos are sometimes poisoned with strychnine. Both this species and the 

 weasel-headed armadillo (D. sexcinctus) are, however, also hunted with clogs. The 

 last-named species, which is about 16 inches long, replaces the peludo in Brazil and 

 Paraguay. Argentina is the home of the pichi or pigmy armadillo (D. minutus) 

 as well as of the woolly armadillo (D. vellerosus). The pigmy armadillo is much 

 smaller than either the peludo or the weasel-headed species, and inhabits dry ground, 

 especially sand-dunes on the shore, where it does not obtain water for months. 

 Like most of its relatives, it is a diurnal animal, which, when pursued, tries to 

 escape by pressing its body close to the ground. 





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PEBA ARMADILLO. 



Next to the great armadillo, the tatouay (Lysiiirus unicinctus) is the largest 

 representative of the family, and belongs to a genus distinguished by the presence 

 of twelve or thirteen movable bands. It inhabits Surinam, Brazil, and Paraguay. 

 The great armadillo (Priodon gigas), of the forests of Surinam and Brazil, is, as 

 its name implies, the largest representative of the famil}-, and is almost a yard long 

 from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail, which is about the same length as 

 the body. 



Of quite a different type is the apar (Tolypeutes tricinctus) of the Argentine 

 pampas, which, together with two other species, forms a genus distinguished by 

 three movable bands. The tail, which is covered with angular tubercles, is 

 retractile, as is the long narrow head, within the cuirass, so that the creature is 

 able to roll itself into a ball, in which state it is completely protected from attack. 

 In colour the apar is dark brownish grey above and russet below, with the spaces 

 between the three movable bands white. Like others of its kindred, it is remark- 



