CHAP. Ill] ARMADILLOS 85 



morning we came across two armadillos — the big, 

 nine-banded armadillo. We were riding with the pack 

 through a dry, sandy pasture country, dotted with clumps 

 of palms, round the trunks of which grew a dense jungle 

 of thorns and Spanish bayonets. The armadillos were 

 feeding in an open space between two of these jungle 

 clumps, which were about a hundred yards apart. One 

 was on all fours ; the other was in a squatting position, 

 with its forelegs off the ground. Their long ears were 

 very prominent. The dogs raced at them. I had 

 always supposed that armadillos merely shuffled along, 

 and curled up for protection when menaced ; and I was 

 almost as surprised as if I had seen a turtle gallop 

 when these two armadillos bounded off at a run, going 

 as fast as rabbits. One headed back for the nearest 

 patch of jungle, which it reached. The other ran at 

 full speed^ — and ran really fast, too — until it nearly 

 reached the other patch, a hundred yards distant, the 

 dogs in full cry immediately behind it. Then it sud- 

 denly changed its mind, wheeled in its tracks, and came 

 back like a bullet right through the pack. Dog after 

 dog tried to seize it or stop it, and turned to pursue it ; 

 but its wedge-shaped snout and armoured body, joined 

 to the speed at which it was galloping, enabled it to 

 drive straight ahead through its pursuers, not one of 

 which could halt it or grasp it, and it reached in safety 

 its thorny haven of refuge. It had run at speed about 

 a hundred and fifty yards. I was much impressed by 

 this unexpected exhibition ; evidently this species of 

 armadillo only curls up as a last resort, and ordi- 

 narily trusts to its speed, and to the protection its 

 build and its armour give it while running, in order 

 to reach its burrow or other place of safety. Twice, 

 while laying railway tracks near Sao Paulo, Kermit 



