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THE ENCOUBERT. 



(Dasypus gilvipes, Illig.) * 

 Weasel-headed Armadillo. Six-banded Armadillo. 



The encoubert inhabits Brazil, Paraguay, and other parts of 

 South America. 



Its length, from the nose to the root of the tail, is one foot 

 and a half, and the tail itself is nearly ten inches long. The 

 head is triangular ; there are nine teeth on either side of the 

 upper jaw, and ten on either side of the lower ; the anterior 

 teeth are incisors only in respect to the bone in which they 

 are placed, and differ neither in form nor function from the 

 others. f Instead of possessing a furry coat, as is usual with 



* The zoologists have bestowed many other titles upon this animal. It 

 is the D. mustelinus, Ray; D. sexcinctus, and D. octodecimcincfus, Linn.; 

 D. encoubertus, Desm. ; D. setosus, Prince Max. ; and Encouberhis sexcinctus, 

 Cuv. ! How many more names it has yet to receive I know not, but, 

 in the interim, think it preferable to adopt Illiger's specific term, as being 

 a translation of its South American one, tatu-peba, or yellow-footed tatu. 



f Cuvier says the present species is distinguished from all the rest, by 

 having a tooth on each side of the intermaxillary bone. 



