ARMADILLOS. 



223 



clearly proclaim its fossorial habits; and it is said to feed chiefly on ants and 

 termites, although not averse to carrion. 



Three-Banded The common three-banded armadillo, or apar, (Tolypeutes 



Armadillos, tricinctus), is the typical representative of a genus comprising three 

 rather small species, distinguished by the great development and solidarity of the 

 scapular and lumbar shields of the carapace, and the reduction of the movable 

 bands to three. The teeth, of which there are nine on each side of the lower jaw, 

 and either nine or eight in the upper jaw, are relatively small, and extend back 



THE GIANT ARMADILLO ($ nat. size). 



nearly to the end of the palate. The head is long and narrow, with the elongated 

 and oval ears placed rather low down on its sides. The third claw in the fore-feet 

 is even more developed than in the giant armadillo ; the first and fifth claws being 

 very minute or wanting. In the hind-foot the three middle toes have short hoof- 

 like nails ; while those of the first and fifth digits are smaller and compressed. 

 The plates of the carapace are small and polygonal, with a strongly-marked 

 granular sculpture. Both the scapular and lumbar shields of the carapace are 

 very large, and much produced on the sides of the neck and tail, thus forming 

 large chambers into which the limbs, tail, and head, can be withdrawn. The 

 conical tail is less than a third the length of the body, and is covered with 

 bony tubercles. The total length of the head and body is about 15 inches; and 



