8 MR. E. W. WHITE ON CHLAMYDOPHORUS TRUNCATUS. [Jan. 6, 



qnent subjects of variation. The veins also are not regular. These 

 differences are as numerous and as marked as those in man. 



Our observations point to important affinities, and, we have reason 

 to believe, may direct attention to conclusions by no means as yet 

 generally received. So we are in hopes that we have not over- 

 estimated the importance of our subject. Investigation of varietal 

 modification of domesticated animals should teach us the general 

 laws and methods of modification, and thus bear fruit in advancement 

 of the science of anthropology, in promoting the scientific manage- 

 ment of our animal servants, and in rendering our knowledge more 

 exact with regard to those forms which inhabited the earth in by- 

 gone ages. 



2. Notes on Chlamydophorus truncatus. 

 By E. W. White, F.Z.S. Lond., and F.Z.S. Reip. Arg. 



[Received Dec. 9, 1879.] 



During my recent travels through the western provinces of the 

 Argentine Republic, this beautiful little plantigrade aberrant member 

 of the Armadillo family enticed me, in the month of August 18/9, 

 to undertake a ride of forty leagues from Mendoza and a diligent 

 search for six days in company with a large number of men, in order 

 to obtain a better knowledge of its habits. 



The range oi Chlamtjdophorus truncatus extends in latitude from the 

 valley of Sonda, province of San Juan, .31° S. lat., down to San Rafael, 

 seventy leagues S. of Mendoza, 34' S. lat., and in longitude from San 

 Luis to the Andes. In the same neighbourhood are found three 

 species of true Dasypodidse. 



I was fortunate enough to secure one living specimen of the Chla- 

 mydoj)horus, which, in spite of the utmost attention, survived capture 

 only three days ; in fact, no instance has occurred of a longer sur- 

 vival than eight days in captivity. 



The usual drawings of this animal in zoological works are erroneous 

 in more than one particular ; for instance : — 



(a) The tail is represented as flexible and terminating in a some- 

 what flattened though, on the whole, solid pointed paddle— whereas 

 it is almost perfectly inflexible, the paddle at the extremity being 

 completely flattened and rounded at the vertex. 



(/3) The fringe attached to the inferior edge of the scute is de- 

 picted as continuous, and drooping from the outer margin of one 

 eye completely round to the outer margin of the other : the fact is, 

 whilst the silky fringe from the lateral surface of the scute is drooping 

 and inclined towards the tail, that issuing from the ultimate enlarged 

 ring o*' the dorsal carapace, uniting with that from the exterior 

 ring ot the truncated extremity, forms a double somewhat bristly 

 fringe standing out pretty well at right angles to that truncated 

 dextremitv. 



