FOOD OF VARIOUS ANIMALS AND BIRDS 



DASYPUS ARMADILLOS (DASYPODIDJS). 



Much like the ant-eaters, these animals feed principally 

 upon animal substances, insects in the larva or chrysalis 

 state, birds' eggs, young reptiles, and, in fact, some of the 

 species will eat almost any kind of flesh or garbage. I 

 believe that in some parts of South America they literally 

 swarm in the neighbourhood of slaughtering places, eating 

 the offal of the slaughtered cattle. No better food can 

 perhaps be found for them than raw flesh, ground fine and 

 mixed like sausage-meat with bread-and-milk ; occasionally 

 some change being given, say a few dead birds or small 

 mammals, some tripe or other parts of animals. 



ANT-EATERS {MYESIECOPHID^). 



Having for several years succeeded in keeping alive the 

 following members of this family, viz. : — 



M. jubata, 



Two species of Tamandua, 



Two „ „ Oryderopus, 



I may fairly claim to be in a position to say that they can, 

 without difficulty, be preserved in a healthy condition if 

 the following instructions be carefully attended to. 



On the bottom of the den place a layer of good soft 

 earth, tolerably dry, and at least 10 in. or 12 in. deep. In 

 the den there should be a snug warm corner, or box, filled 

 with dry straw for a bed. Grind, in a sausage-machine, 

 daily, about 3 lbs. of raw flesh (not fat) ; add to this 2 lbs. 

 of bread-and-milk, then well mix the whole together: 

 An adult M. jiibata will eat this quantity of food twice 

 each day. The small species will of course eat. less ; they 

 also eat soft fruit, such as pears, bananas, and M. jubata 



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