170 TOOTHLESS MAMMALS 
seldom seen in captivity. It is the giant armadillo of north- 
eastern South America. 
THe TureE-Banpep ArmapILLo,' of Argentina, repre- 
sents the highest degree of perfection attained, either past or 
present, by any member of the Family. 
Its shell is very strong, and so perfect is its mechanism 
that when the animal is in danger, it makes of itself a round 
ball, so completely incased in horn that no four-footed enemy 
can penetrate it. Even the top of the head is protected by a 
shield, which acts as a shutter when the animal rolls up and 
wishes to close the only opening leading into the shell. It 
gives one a very queer sensation to handle one of these living 
nuts, and note the marvellous ingenuity in design and skill 
in mechanical execution which has been displayed in provid- 
ing this special means of protection for an otherwise defence- 
less creature. 
Having such excellent defensive armor, the Three-Banded 
‘Armadillo does not often burrow in the ground, and it ranges 
freely by daylight. In running it touches only the ends of 
its claws to the ground, and the shell is held high. The head- 
and-body length of the adult animal is about 14 inches, and 
the tail measures 314 inches. 
Tue Nine-Banpep ARMADILLO’ ranges all the way from 
southern Texas and Arizona to Paraguay, and along the Rio 
Grande is so common that living specimens are sold at $2 
each. In Venezuela I found it burrowing on the open sa- 
vannas, going down about four feet, in a hole seven inches 
in diameter. The flesh of this creature is well flavored and 
1 Das'y-pus tri-cinc'tus. 2 Ta’tu no’vem-cinc'tum. 
