THE ARMADILLO. 63 



The various species of Armadillo, all mailed animals, are mighty 

 burrowers, residing in holes which they have dug with their pow- 

 erful fore limbs, and obtaining much of their food below the sur- 

 face of the earth. They are carnivorous beings, and feed upon 

 insects and all kinds of animal substances. One species, the Giant 

 Armadillo (Priodonta giga.s), is so determined a burrower, that it 

 has often been known to dig up dead bodies for the purpose of 

 feeding on them. All these creatures, however, are fond of ani- 

 mal substances, and many of them may be found upon the savan- 

 nas of South America, feasting greedily upon the bodies of the 

 cattle which are slaughtered so recklessly for the sake of their 

 hides. In all these animals the coat of mail is exceedingly hard, 

 so hard, indeed, that it is used for sharpening the long Spanish 

 knife, which is universally carried by the Gauchos. 



Digging these animals out of their retreat is no easy business. 

 According to Mr. Waterton, the method adopted is simple, though 

 laborious. As the Armadillos burrow like rabbits in a warren, 

 the first point is to ascertain whether the inhabitant is at home. 

 This is done by pushing a stick into each hole, and watching for 

 mosquitoes. If any of these troublesome flies emerge, the inhab- 

 itant is at home; if not, there is no use in searching farther. 

 When the presence of an Armadillo is satisfactorily ascertained, 

 a long rod is thrust into the burrow in order to learn its direc- 

 tion, and a hole is dug in the ground so as to meet the end of the 

 stick. A fresh departure is taken from that point, the rod is again 

 introduced, and by dint of laborious digging the animal is at last 

 captured. 



Meanwhile, the Armadillo is not idle, but continues to burrow 

 in the sand, in hopes of escaping its persecutors. It can not, how- 

 ever, dig so fast as they can, and is at last obliged to yield. Mr. 

 Waterton mentions that he has been obliged to work for three 

 quarters of a day, and to sink half a dozen pits before a single 

 specimen could be secured.. 



If an Armadillo should be surprised, and its retreat to the bur- 

 row intercepted, it at once sets to work at sinking a fresh tunnel. 

 So fast, indeed, does it excavate, that if a horseman sees one of 

 these animals, he must almost tumble from his steed if he wishes 

 to capture the active creature. And, when he has grasped it, he 

 must be careful about his hands, or he will suffer severe wounds 

 from the powerful claws of the Armadillo. As with the pichici- 

 ago, the coat of mail, which appears so hard and stiff in the stuffed 



