DASVPODIDZ 199 
all very small ; those in the anterior half of each series being strongly 
compressed, with flat sides and a straight free edge ; the posterior 
ones are more nearly cylindrical, with flat truncated, free surfaces. 
Vertebre: C7, D12, L3, 810, C23. Head small, elongated, 
conical. Ears moderate, ovate. Carapace with 12-13 movable 
bands. Tail nearly equal to the body in length, gradually tapering, 
closely covered with quadrangular scales, arranged in a quincunx 
pattern. Fore feet with five toes, formed on the same plan as those 
of Xenurus, but with the claw of the third of still greater size, and 
that of each of the others, especially the fifth, proportionately reduced. 
Hind foot short and rounded, with five very short toes, with short, 
broad, flat, obtuse nails. The only known species, the Great 
Armadillo (P. gigas), is by far the largest of existing members of the 
family, measuring rather more than 3 feet from the tip of the nose 
to the root of the tail, the tail being about 20 inches long. It 
inhabits the forests of Surinam and Brazil. The powerful falcate 
claws of its fore feet enable it to dig with great facility. Its food 
consists chiefly of termites and other insects, but it is said to attack 
and uproot newly-made graves for the purpose of devouring the 
flesh of the bodies contained in them. 
Tolypeutes..—Teeth % or 8, rather large in proportion to the size 
of the skull, the hinder end of the series reaching nearly to the 
posterior margin of the palate. Vertebre: C7, D11, L3, 8 12, 
C13. Ears placed low on the sides of the head, rather large, 
broadly ovate. Carapace with its scapular and pelvic shields very 
free at the sides of the body, forming large chambers into which the 
limbs can be readily withdrawn. Only three movable bands ; 
sculpture of scutes in the form of subconcentrically arranged 
granules. Tail short, conical, covered with large bony tubercles. 
The fore feet formed on the same type as in the last genus, but the 
peculiarities carried out to a still greater extent. The claw of the 
third toe is very long and falcate, the first and fifth greatly reduced 
and sometimes wanting. On the hind foot the three middle toes 
have broad, flat, subequal nails, forming together a kind of tripartite 
hoof; the first and fifth much shorter, with more compressed 
nails. 
The Armadillos of this genus have the power of rolling them- 
selves up into a perfect ball, the shield on the top of the head and 
the tuberculated dorsal surface of the tail exactly fitting into and 
filling up the apertures left by the notches at either end of the 
carapace. This appears to be their usual means of defence when 
frightened or surprised, as they do not burrow like the other 
species. They run very quickly, with a very peculiar gait, only 
the tips of the claws of the fore feet touching the ground. Three 
species are described:—T. tricinctus, the Apar; T. conurus, the 
1 Mlliger, Prodromus Syst. Manum. et Aviwm, p. 111 (1811). 
