316 



MAMMALS 



burrowing animals, and, accordingly, are fitted with strong 

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

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

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



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

 rolleil up for protection. 



covered. This coat of mail is tlivided into three distinct 

 portions, — an antei'ior portion coveriiig the shoulders, a 

 posterior portion covering the Irips, and a middle portion, 

 which is often divided into se\-ei-al distinct rings (I'^ig. 208). 

 In the species shown, the middle portion is divitletl into 

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

 armadillo. These breaks in tlie coating of scak^s afford 

 flexibility, and gi\'e an o|ipoi-timit)- foi- the animal to roll 

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

 In the three-l)anded armadillo, the Iwail also is covered with 

 scales, which alfoi'd fuller protection. Tliere is only one 

 species of armadillo in tlu^ Tniti^d States, and that is 

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

 length, antl lives in burrows. None of th(^ armadillos are 

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

 exclusive of the tail. 



