A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



77 



" Just the contrary," replied Sumichrast; "they are very com- 

 mon, and the Indians never fail to feast on them when they can 

 procure them." 



" What does the name armadillo mean 1 " 



" It is a Paraguayan word, the meaning of which is, ' encased 

 in armour.' The Aztecs call the animal ayotochitl, that is, ' gourd- 

 rabbit' — 'rabbit' on account of its ears, and 'gourd' because, 

 when it rolls itself up in a ball, it reminds one of that vege- 

 table." 



L'Encuerado had gone to sleep. Lucien soon went into the 

 hut, and I noticed that Sumichrast carefully arranged the leaves 



which were to form our bed, although he himself laid down any- 

 where. I was much less inclined for sleep than my companions, 

 and contemplated them all reposing ; reflecting on the strange 

 chance which united, under the same shelter, in the midst of the 

 wilderness, persons born of such distinct races, and in such dif- 

 ferent climates. We could all surely depend on one another, for 

 in previous expeditions our mutual friendship had been put to 

 the proof. Seeing how well Lucien bore the fatigue, I rejoiced 



