CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 8. EDENTATA. 467 



the maize thus accidentally spilt, opened a trench or burrow at some distance from the trap, and 

 without deviating a hair's breadth from the straight line of his direction, pushed it on to the'verv 

 spot where the grain had fallen, and possessed himself of the booty !" 



THE SIX-BANDED ARMADILLO. 



Genus ENCOUBERT : Euphractus. — In the animals of this genus, that part of the carapace 

 which covers the loins consists of six to ten broad movable bands, coming down the sides, but 

 covering no part of the belly ; the covering upon the rump, as well as that upon the neck and 

 shoulders, come down in the same manner. The forehead, as well as the upper part of the tail, 

 are also protected by the scaly armor. 



The Poyou, or Six-banded Armadillo, E. sexcinctus, is one of the species which has been 

 long known, and was described by Buffon. The central bands are usually six, but the number 

 varies. Its size is nearly that of a woodchuck, being about fourteen or sixteen inches long, but 

 the form is flatter and more tortoise-like. It has, like the rest of its brethren, little stupid eyi s, 

 a keen-scented nose, sharp quick-hearing ears. Being provided with shield and buckler by na- 

 ture, nature gave it no other defense, not even that of the courage or spirit to make battle when 

 attacked. It is in fact a shy, timid little beast, living in its burrow or a crevice in the rocks by 

 day, and stealing forth at night in quest of fruits, roots, maize, worms, and insects that chance t<> 

 come in its way. It does not disdain carrion, and being a great frequenter of the pampas of Bue- 

 nos Ayres, where it has a perpetual feast on the carcasses of cattle killed for their skins, it gets 

 fat, and being esteemed a delicacy when roasted in the shell, it is killed and eaten in large num- 

 bers. In case of danger, this creature perhaps squats in the grass, and being nearly of the color 

 of the earth, may pass unnoticed. If this does not answer, it runs, perchance, and pretty rapidly 

 too, considering its short legs, dumpy form, and ordinary tortoise-like gait. If hard pressed, and 

 the shape of the country favors, it will roll itself into a ball and tumble down the hills or rocks, 

 and thus make its escape. 



Beside this there are other species, among which are the PicHrr, D. ininutus, and the Haibi 

 Armadillo, D. villosus of Desmarest. 



Genus PRIODONTES : Priodontes. — Of this genus is the Great Armadillo, P. ffiyas : the 

 Grand Tatou of Azara ; the Giant Tatou of Cuvier. In this the. carapace covers the body 

 above and low down on the sides, but leaves the belly unprotected; the bands -across the back 

 •are twelve to fourteen. It is the largest of the family, being three feet three inches long, with a 

 tail nearly half the length of the body ; its head is very small ; its ears'are of a moderate size, 

 pointed, and habitually crouched backward ; the tail is remarkably thick at the root, being up- 

 ward often inches in circumference; it is gradually attenuated toward the tip, covered with 

 plates disposed in rings at the base, and forming spiral or crescent-shaped lines throughout the 



