846 IN ARMOUR SHEATHED. 



dontes." Their general characteristics, however, are the same, and to 

 describe one is virtually to describe all 



The body of the Armadillo has been invested by nature with a 

 complete suit of armour : thus the head is protected by an oval or 

 triangular plate, the shoulders by a large buckler, and the haunches 

 by a similar buckler ; while between these solid portions intervenes 

 a series of transverse bands, or zones of shell, which accommodate 

 this coat of mail to the various postures of the body ; the tail also is 

 covered by a series of calcareous rings, so that the animal exhibits a 

 peculiar and somewhat ungainly appearance. Like the hedgehog, he 

 can roll himself up into a ball, and present a solid impervious sub- 

 stance to the attacks of any adversary. The interior surface of the 

 body, not covered by the shell, is clothed with coarse scattered hairs, 

 some of which also emerge between the joints of the coat of mail. 



This strange quadruped, like a mediaeval knight, 



" In armour sheathed from top to toe," 



has a rather pointed snout, long ears, short and thick limbs, and 

 stout claws. Nature has thus fitted him by a peculiarly admirable 

 organization for those habits of bun-owing, which he performs with 

 such astonishing rapidity that it is almost impossible to capture him 

 by digging. His hunters therefore smoke him out of his subter- 

 raneous lair ; as soon as he reaches the surface he rolls himself up, 

 and is easily taken prisoner. He is then roasted in his shell, and 

 devoured with avidity, his flesh being as great a dainty to a South 

 American Indian as turtle to a London alderman. 



By the side of the armadillos we may place another individual of 

 the Edentata, not less strange in form : this is the Tamanoir, or 

 Great Ant-Eater (Myrmecophaga jubata), which feeds exclusively on 

 ants, digging open their hills with his powerful crooked claws, and 

 drawing his long flexible tongue, covered with viscous saliva, lightly 

 over the myriad insects that immediately sally forth to defend their 

 homes. 



" The habits of the Myrmecophaga jubata are now pretty well 



