ANIMAL KINGDOM. 117 



Edentata. Cachicame, Armadillo, or Tatou (Dasypus). 

 The Tatou haunts the high woods, and subsists partly on vegetables, 

 partly on insects ; it burrows, closes the entrance of its burrow 

 with leaves, and ventures out at night. Though not very fleet, 

 the Cachicame is not easily caught by dogs on account of its hard 

 shell. When tastily prepared, it forms a very delicate dish. 



Great Ant - eater, or Mataperro (Myrmecophaya tridac- 

 tyla) It lives in the high woods, sleeping the day out in the 

 hollows of fallen or in the foliage of green trees, and crawls 

 about at night in search of food, in obtaining which it insinuates 

 its long filiform tongue into the nests of ants ; the insects be- 

 coming entangled in the viscid saliva which covers the tongue, 

 are then swallowed in a mass ; they also lay their tongue on the 

 track of the Parasol-ants, and devour immense numbers of them. 

 The great Ant-eater moves very slowly, and whenever aware of 

 any danger, quickly throws itself on its back, and, in that 

 posture, awaits the attack of its assailant, which it seizes with its 

 powerful arms and fearful claws : these it plunges into the body 

 of its enemy, gradually thrusting more and more deeply until 

 death ensues. Its hold is so tenacious that dogs cannot dis- 

 engage themselves from the murderous embrace, and must perish 

 unless promptly relieved ; hence its Spanish name of Mataperro, 

 or the " Dog-killer ;" it is also called the " Sloth," or again the 

 " Poor-me-one," from its mournful night-cry, which the fancy of 

 the peasant has assimilated to the sound of those syllables. In 

 connection with this animal, the following anecdote was related 

 to me : An African labourer meeting with a Mataperro in the 

 act of crossing the high road and mistaking it for an opossum, 

 eagerly seized it by the tail and swung it over his shoulder, con- 

 gratulating himself on his good fortune ; but he had " reckoned 

 without his host," and was compelled to call for immediate 

 assistance, being almost deprived of breath from the embrace of 

 his pseudo-captive. 



Packydermata. Wild Hog, Cuenco, or Pecari (Dycotiles). 

 There are, it appears, two distinct species of Cuencos : one rather 

 larger than the other. They range in small bands of five or 

 eight, or in larger, of fifty and above ; they haunt the high woods, 

 and the smaller species is particularly common towards the eastern 

 coast. When started by the dogs the Pecari takes to flight, but 

 is soon brought to bay against a tree, or in some hollow, or other 



