316 MAMMALS 



burrowing animals, and, accordingly, are fitted with strong 

 claws for digging. The back and sides of the body are 

 covered with a coat of mail composed of thick, overlapping, 

 bony scales. In some species even the head, also, is 



Fig. 208. — Three-banded armadillo: at the left, walking; at the right, 

 rolled up for protection. 



covered. This coat of mail is divided into three distinct 

 portions, — an anterior portion covering the shoulders, a 

 posterior portion covering the hips, and a middle portion, 

 which is often divided into several distinct rings (Fig. 208). 

 In the species shown, the middle portion is divided into 

 three bands, hence this one is known as the three-banded 

 armadillo. These breaks in the coating of scales afford 

 flexibility, and give an opportunity for the animal to roll 

 up into a ball, as it often does for protection (Fig. 208). 

 In the three-banded armadillo, the head also is covered with 

 scales, which afford fuller protection. There is only one 

 species of armadillo in the United States, and that is 

 confined to Texas. It is about two and one half feet in 

 length, and lives in burrows. None of the armadillos are 

 large animals, the largest being only about three feet long, 

 exclusive of the tail. 



