HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



505 



THE KABASSOU. 



Is furnished with twelve bands, and is the largest 

 of all the Armadillos, being- almost three feet long 

 from nose to tail: the figures on the shoulders are 

 of an oblong form; those on the rump hexangular. 

 It is seldom eaten. 



THE WEASEL-HEADED ARMADILLO. 

 (Dasypus Unicmctus, Linn. Le Cirquinfon, Buff.) 



So called from the form of its head, which is 

 slender, has eighteen bands from its shoulder to its 

 tail : the shell is marked with square figures on the 

 shoulders; those on the legs and thighs are round- 

 ish; the body is about fifteen inches long: tail five. 



All these animals have the power of drawing 

 themselves up under their shells, either for the pur- 

 pose of repose or safety. They are furnished with 

 strong lateral muscles, consisting of numberless 

 fibres, crossing each other in the form of an X, 

 with which they contract themselves so powerfully, 

 that the strongest man is scarcely able to force 

 them open. The shells of the larger Armadillos 

 are much stronger than those of the smaller kinds : 

 their flesh is likewise harder, and more unfit for the 

 table. 



VOL. in. 3 s 



