88 THROUGH THE BRAZILIAN WILDERNESS 



trunks of which grew a dense jungle of thorns and Spanish 

 bayonets. The armadillos were feeding in an open space 

 between two of these jungle clumps, which were about a 

 hundred yards apart. One was on all fours; the other 

 was in a squatting position, with its fore legs off the ground. 

 Their long ears were very prominent. The dogs raced at 

 them. I had always supposed that armadillos merely 

 shuffled along, and curled up for protection when men- 

 aced; and I was almost as surprised as if I had seen a 

 turtle gallop when these two armadillos bounded ofT at a 

 run, going as fast as rabbits. One headed back for the 

 nearest patch of jungle, which it reached. The other ran 

 at full speed — and ran really fast, too — until it nearly 

 reached the other patch, a hundred yards distant, the dogs 

 in full cry immediately behind it. Then it suddenly 

 changed its mind, wheeled in its tracks, and came back 

 like a bullet right through the pack. Dog after dog tried 

 to seize it or stop it and turned to pursue it; but its wedge- 

 shaped snout and armored body, joined to the speed at 

 which it was galloping, enabled it to drive straight ahead 

 through its pursuers, not one of which could halt it or 

 grasp it, and it reached in safety its thorny haven of refuge. 

 It had run at speed about a hundred and fifty yards. I 

 was much impressed by this unexpected exhibition; evi- 

 dently this species of armadillo only curls up as a last re- 

 sort, and ordinarily trusts to its speed, and to the protection 

 its build and its armor give it while running, in order to 

 reach its burrow or other place of safety. Twice, while 

 laying railway tracks near Sao Paulo, Kermit had acciden- 

 tally dug up armadillos with a steam-shovel. 



There were big ant-hills, some of them of huge dimen- 



