ARMADILLOS 



Armadillos are in great request with the itinerant 

 showmen, who announce the animal as the " Wonderful 

 Hog in Armour ; " of course the picture outside the show 

 rather flatters the animal in. size, and occasionally quite 

 equals the fe.mous glyptodon, which, according to Professor 

 Owen, rivalled the rhiaoceros in dimensions. 



Armadillos are said (in almost every book that has been 

 published) to feed upon roots, fruit, and other vegetable 

 substances; our experience, however, has proved that 

 these animals are feeders upon animal substances, if not 

 entirely so, to a great extent. One fact at least would 

 lead to this conclusion, they have become amazingly 

 abundant in the neighbourhood of the slaughtering places 

 of South America, feeding on the offal caused by killing 

 a large quantity of cattle, and their vast numbers iucline 

 one to believe that this food is well suited to them. In 

 captivity they feed freely on animal food, such as flesh, 

 worms, or insects, small birds, eggs, lizards, and snakes, 

 rejecting fruit and vegetable substances. 



They burrow into the earth with wonderful swiftness, 

 and most frequently under the roots of trees, rendering it 

 most difficult to dig them out. Their movements on the 

 surface of the ground are quick and lively, and generally 

 at twilight, being nocturnal rather than diurnal in their 

 habits. They produce two at a birth, which are at that 

 time helpless and blind, and are suckled for some time. 



Armadillos are amazingly strong and muscular, con- 

 sequently, taking size into account, they are of great 

 weight. The flesh is much sought after, and considered 

 delicious eating. 



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