NATURAL ARMOUR. 123 



though it is not likely that the inventor of tassets should have 

 seen an Armadillo, the fact still remains, that Art has been 

 anticipated by Nature. 



Exactly the same principle is seen in that wonderful little 

 animal, the Pichiciago of South America, which is shown in the 

 lower left-hand figure of the illustration. This creature is not 

 only furnished with bony rings on the body like those of the 

 Armadillo, but has likewise a flap which comes over the hind- 

 quarters, and effectually defends it against the attacks of any 

 foe that might pursue it into its burrow. 



In the lower right-hand corner of the illustration is seen a 

 figure of a Chiton, several species of which are common on most 

 of our coasts. This is one of the molluscs, which adheres to 

 the rock just as limpets do. But, whereas the shell of the 

 limpet is all in one piece and inflexible, that of the Chiton is 

 composed of several pieces, which are arranged exactly like the 

 tassets of armour, and enable the Chiton to accommodate itself 

 to the inequalities of the rocks to which it is adhering. 



The common Pill Millipede, which rolls itself up in a ball 

 when alarmed, is a familiar instance of similar defensive armour, 

 and much the same may be said of the Julus Millipede. 



"We now come to Scale Armour, which is one of the earliest 

 modes of protecting the body, and the idea of which was clearly 

 taken from animal life. In Scale Armour, flat plates of metal, 

 horn, or bone are sewn to a linen or leathern vest in such a 



SCALES OF MANIS. SCALE-MAIL. 



way that the scales overlap each other, and so tend to throw off 

 the blow of a weapon. One great advantage of this armour is 

 its lightness and flexibility, the former quality allowing of 

 more prolonged exertion than could be possible with the heavy 

 plate armour, and the latter rendering that exertion less 

 fatiguing to the limbs. 



