ARMADILLOS. 223 
clearly proclaim its fossorial habits; and it is said to feed chiefly on ants and 
termites, although not averse to carrion. 
Three-Banded The common three-banded armadillo, or apar, (Jolypeutes 
Armadillos. tricinctus), is the typical representative of a genus comprising three 
rather small species, distinguished by the great development and solidarity of the 
scapular and lumbar shields of the carapace, and the reduction of the movable 
bands to three. The teeth, of which there are nine on each side of the lower jaw, 
and either nine or eight in the upper jaw, are relatively small, and extend back 


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SS 
Sante 

THE GIANT ARMADILLO (} nat. size). 
nearly to the end of the palate. The head is long and narrow, with the elongated 
and oval ears placed rather low down on its sides. The third claw in the fore-feet 
is even more developed than in the giant armadillo; the first and fifth claws being 
very minute or wanting. In the hind-foot the three middle toes have short hoof- 
like nails; while those of the first and fifth digits are smaller and compressed. 
The plates of the carapace are small and polygonal, with a strongly-marked 
granular sculpture. Both the scapular and lumbar shields of the carapace are 
very large, and much produced on the sides of the neck and tail, thus forming 
large chambers into which the limbs, tail, and head, can be withdrawn. The 
conical tail is less than a third the length of the body, and is covered with 
bony tubercles. The total length of the head and body is about 15 inches; and 
