160 Dr. Harlan on a new Genus of Edentata. 



removed previous to my obtaining a view of the animal, I am ««- 

 able to give any further detail of the inten>al organization. It is 

 fortunate that I have been enabled to make so complete a pre- 

 paration of the skull ; this, with the external organization, which 

 is well preserved, will enable me to establish its generic charac- 

 ters on the firmest foundation. 



To such as have made comparative anatomy the subject of their 

 investigation, the above minute detail of this very extraordinary 

 individual will enable them, in some measure, to anticipate the 

 observations which follow; they will perceive at first view, that 

 the animal before us unites in its external configuration traits 

 peculiar to the genera Dasypus, Talpa, and Bradypus ; yet a 

 very superficial observation will unfold characters generically dis- 

 tinct from either.. It wild be observed, that though this singular 

 being is clothed with a coat (or rather cloak) of mail, in a slight 

 degree resembling the armadillo, yet it difiiers remarkably in its 

 texture, form, situation, arrangement, and mode of attachment to ' 

 the body. In the armadillo, the body is covered with a hard, 

 scaly shell, and consists, — 1st, In a plate upon the forehead. 

 2nd, A vast shield situate upon the shoulders, and formed af 

 small rectangular compartments, disposed in transverse bands. 

 3rd, In bands of similar plates, but moveable and varying in num- 

 ber, from three to twelve more or less, according to the species. 

 4th, In a shield upon the rump, very similar to that on the 

 shoulders. 5th, In rings more or less numerous on the tail ; five 

 toes behind ; before sometimes five, at others four ; hairs sparse. 

 The whole shell is covered by a thin transparent epidermis, which 

 is joined to the skin of the belly ^ which gives to the shell a shin- 

 ing aspect, as if it were varnished ; the extremities are entirely 

 covered with strong scales. The armadillo burrows in the earth ; 

 is sufficiently quick in its motions ; is capable of rolling its body 

 into the form of a ball ; and is omnivorous. The external ear is 

 sometimes large, and always very apparent. 



From this statement, we are convinced that there exists only 

 the most distant analogy in the external covering of the Dasypus 

 with that of the new genus ; other analogies, which are found in 

 the comparison of the skulls, will be referred to hereafter. 



