Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 35 



I have enumerated seven species of Armadillos which I know to 

 inhabit Guiana. They resemble each other in their habits and ap- 

 pearance ; and their form, number of claws, and dentition give to 

 the naturalist the specific difference. The number of bands of which 

 their armour consists is so variable in different individuals of the 

 same species, that the systematic naturalist should not attach the 

 slightest value to it. 



They all burrow, and their general food appears to be worms 

 and insects ; they sometimes commit depredations in the provision 

 grounds, and the giant and savannah Armadillo are said to feed on 

 carrion. All Indians agree in this assertion. 



When about to bring forth, the mother is said to make a nest in 

 /the burrow, and gives birth to from seven to nine young, which are 

 blind. They afterwards follow the mother, who, whilst the young 

 ones are still helpless, never ventures to leave their hole by day. 

 They feed generally by night, but from the circumstance that we 

 have secured several in the daytime which we found walking, it may 

 be concluded that hunger forces them sometimes to go in search of 

 food during the day. Their walk is swift, but they can neither run, 

 leap, nor climb. If pursued, therefore, without being able to reach 

 their hole, they roll themselves more or less up, and submit to their 

 fate without defence. 



The smaller species are eaten by all the Indians and are consi- 

 dered a delicacy. The Arawaak Indians are the only tribe whom I 

 have ascertained to eat the giant Armadillo. The Dasypus Peba, or 

 common Armadillo, is even esteemed by many Creoles, and its flesh 

 is white and tastes somewhat like rabbit ; we may therefore sup- 

 pose that they receive no mercy. As they are seldom found from 

 their retreat, nor stir out except by night, the pursuit of them re- 

 quires some skill and patience. 



I myself have seen that when pursued and they are far from their 

 retreat, they begin digging a fresh burrow, and when half buried 

 and laid hold of by the tail, it is so difficult to pull them backwards 

 that they often make their escape with the loss of their tail. Their 

 pursuers, sensible of this, avoid dragging the tail with all their force, 

 while another tickles it behind with a small stick, upon which they 

 relinquish their hold and are secured. 



[To be continued.] 



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