ANIMALS. 365 



liiit a complete ossification takes place only on those jjarts 

 which have the least friction, and are the most exposed to the 

 weather. The shell, which covers the upper part of the body, 

 differs from that of the tortoise, in being composed of more 

 pieces than one, which lie in bands over the body, and, as in the 

 tail of the lobster, slide over each other, and are connected by a. 

 yellow membrane in the same manner. By this means the ani- 

 mal has a motion in its back, and the armour gives way to its 

 necessary inflexions. These bands are of various numbers and 

 sizes, and from them these animals have been distinguished into 

 various kinds. In general however, there are two large pieces 

 that cover, one the shoulders, and the other the rump In the 

 back, between these, the bands are placed in different numbers, 

 that lap over each other, and give play to the whole. Besides 

 their opening cross-ways, they also open down along the back, so 

 that the animal can move in every direction. In some there are 

 but three of these bands between the large pieces ; in others there 

 are six ; in a third kind there are eight ; in a fourth kind, nine ; 

 in a fifth kind, twelve ; and, lastly, in the sixth kind there is but 

 one large piece, which covers the shoulders, and the rest of the 

 body is covered with bands all down to the tail. These shells 

 are differently coloured in different kinds, but most usually they 

 are of a dirty grey. This colour, in aU, arises from another pe- 

 culiar circumstance in their conformation, for the shell itself is 

 covered with a softish skin, which is smooth and transparent. 



But, although these shells might easily defend this animal 

 from a feeble enemy, yet they could make but a slight resis- 

 tance against a more powerful antagonist ; nature, therefore, has 

 given the armadillo the same method of protecting itself with 

 the hedgehog or the pangolin. The instant it perceives itself 

 attacked, it withdraws the head under its shells, and lets nothing 

 be seen but the tip of the nose ; if the danger increases, the ani, 

 mal's precautions increase in proportion •, it then tucks up its 

 feet under its belly, unites its two extremities together, while the 

 tail seems as a band to strengthen the connection ; and it thus 

 becomes like a ball, a little flattish on each side. In this posi- 

 tion it continues obstinately fixed, while the danger is near, and 

 often long after it is over. In this situation it is tossed about at 

 tiie pleasure of every other quadruped, and very little resembling 

 a creature endowed with life and motion, Whenever the In- 



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