310 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



of the snout is furnished with an enlarged cartilage, as in 

 the Hog. The anterior portion of the lower jaw is shaped 

 like that of the Elephant, much elongated ; but the general 

 form and proportions resemble very much the lower jaw of 

 the Sheep. 



The animal before us, says Dr. Harlan, unites in its ex- 

 ternal configuration, traits peculiar to the genera Dasypus, 

 Talpa, and Bradypus ; yet a very superficial observation 

 will unfold characters generically distinct from either. It 

 will be observed, that though this singular being is clothed 

 with a coat, or rather cloak of mail, in a slight degree re- 

 sembling the Armadillo, yet it differs remarkably in its 

 texture, form, situation, arrangement, and mode of attach- 

 ment to the body. In the Armadillo the body is covered 

 with a hard scaly shell, and consists, 1st, In a plate upon 

 the forehead ; 2d, A vast shield situated upon the shoul- 

 ders, and formed of small rectangular compartments dis- 

 posed in transverse bands ; 3d, In bands of similar plates, 

 but moveable, and varying in number 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 be- 

 hind ; 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 body, which gives to the 

 shell a shining aspect, as if it were varnished; the ex- 

 tremities 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, it appears, that there exists only 

 the most distant analogy in the external covering of the 

 Dasypus, with that of the new genus before us ; other 

 analogies will be found in the comparison of the skulls. 



