124 



MAM]\IAL1A. 



There have Ijcen discovereil in America tlie fossil skeletons of t'n'o anijnals holonging to llio orrlcr 

 Edentata [and lately anotlier not yet nameil], of enormous diniensious : the lirst of tlicm, the Mi.'tj/i- 

 theriam^ has a head very similar to that of a Sloth, but without canines, and approximating in the rest 

 of its skeleton partly to the Sloths, and partly to the Ant-eaters, [most of all, however, to the minute 

 Chlamyphorus, having even been covered Ijy a similar massive buckler]. It is twelve feet long, and 

 six or seven high. The other, the Mcgalomjx, is rather less : its toes are the only parts that are well 

 known, and tlicy :^trongly resemlile tliose of tlie other. 



T)ie second tribe, cuui[irLdicLnliiij^ 



Tiuc Ordinary Edentata, — 

 Have tlie muzzle pointed. They have still molar teeth, and are divisible into two genera. 



Thk Armadillos {Das-r/pus-, Lin.) — 

 Ai'e very remarkable among the .Vr'/'/^;/r///V/, for the scaly and hard [bony] shell, composed of pave- 

 ment-like compartments, which covers tln'ir iiead and lindy, ami often the tail. This substance forms 

 a shield n[)on thuir forehead, another larger and more convex on the shoulders, a third on the cru]ipcr 



simihir to the preceding, and between the two 

 latter several parailul and moveable bands, 

 whieli allow the )(ody to bend. The tail is 

 sometimes furnished with successive rings; and 

 at others, with varied tuliercles, like the legs. 

 These animals hiive [generally] large cars, and 

 also great claws, either five or four anteriorlv, 

 and always five to their hind-feet ; a some- 

 what pointed mnzzle ; cylindrical grinding 

 teeth separated from each other, to the num- 

 lier of seven or eiglit on each side of both 

 jaws, and without enaniel on the inside; a 

 soft tongue, but little extensilile ; and there 

 are a few scattered hairs between their scales, 

 or on those parts of the l)ody not covered by the shell. They excavate burrows, and subsist i>artly on 

 vegetables, and paitly on insects ami carcases: their stmuaeh is simple, and there is no coi-cum. All 

 of them are indigenous to tlie T^'arm or at least temperate regions of South America. 



They may be iirranged inio sultgencra, according to tlie structure of their fore-feet and the nunilicr 

 of their teeth. The majority have only four toes aaterinrh , of whieh the medial are the longest. Of 

 tliii nuniber are 



The ('AcnicAMES, F. Cuv., — 

 n each, side of hoth jaws; a pointed muzzle; and long tail encircled 



Fig. 60. — Cclia An 



"Which have only seven leetl 



with bony rings. Sueh are 



The Blnck Arm.'Hlillu nf A'/// 



ra (Z). iiii):e»irii/''/i/.\\ Lin.), with nine infermeiliate hands, and sometin 



. hut 



eig-lit ; also the Mule Armadillo ufthe .same naturahst {D. scj)/ciuciju-/u.s), -with a shorter tuil than the prucednig. 



Tnio Aparas, V. Cuv., — 



Have toci the same as in the Caehicames, but nine or ten teeth above and l.tclow. 



Tlie Apara AnuaiUllo of Azzara {D. tricinctus, Lm.), with three intermediate bands, and a very short tail plated 

 with regular tuberculatecl compartments. By enclosing its lieud and feet within its armour, this species is enahled 

 to rrjll itsr-lf i;(jmplefrly into a ball, like certain Oittsci. It inhabits Brazil and Paraguay, and is one of those found 

 farllh'st to Ihe sunllj. 



Other Armadillos, 



TuE Encouberts, F. Cuv., — 



Have five toes to their fore-feet, of which the three medial aic the longest : their tail is in great i)art 

 covered with quincunx scales, and their teeth are nine or ten in number, above and below. In this 

 subdivision ranges 



