THE ARMADILLO. 



251 



the mouth. The ant-eaters {Myrmecophaga) inhabit South 

 America. 



The pangolins, or species of Manis (Fig. 388), are mail- 

 clad ant-eaters, the body and long tail being covered with 

 large overlapping scales. When molested they roll up the 

 body. In walking the hind feet rest on tlie soles, while 

 the fore feet are supported by the uf)per side of the long 

 bent claws. 



The long-tailed pangolin of the West Coast of Africa 

 (Fig. 288) tears open with its long claws the nests oi tlie 

 white ants. It is nearly f metre (28-30 inches) in length. 



The armadillos are small mammals covered with a shell, 

 consisting of from three to thirteen transverse rows of 



Fig. 291. — Nine-banded Armadillo. From Liitken's Zoology. 



movable scales; by rolling into a ball, these singular crea- 

 tures become thoroughly protected from their enemies. 

 Dasypus novem-cinctics (Fig. 289) is much like the Peba 

 armadillo (Fig. 290), and extends from South America to 

 Texas. The three-banded armadillo (Fig. 291) can roll 

 itself into a ball; it is an inhabitant of Brazil, Buenos 

 Ayres, and Paraguay. According to Herbert Smith, the 

 armadillos in Southern Brazil burrow in the grass of the 

 plains, and the smaller species tear open the high conical 

 nests of the white ants. " These nests are almost as hard 

 as brick; the bones and muscles of the fore feet in the 

 armadillos are specially modified so as to secure great 

 strength for digging, and the large claws are used like 

 miniature picks in boring into the tough clay." [American 

 Naturalist, July, 18S3). 



