70 LECTURE III. 



tion. The long zones or divisions, covering the 

 upper part of the body, difter in number in the 

 different species, and thus afford a good general 

 character of distinction. The most common spe- 

 cies is the Dasypus novem-cincfus, or nine-banded 

 Armadillo. All the Armadillos are natives of 

 South America, where they reside in dry and 

 rocky places, and have- the faculty of burrowing 

 under ground. They w^ander about chiefly by 

 night, and devour various kinds of roots and 

 grain : they also prey on worms and insects ; and 

 when in a state of captivity, will readily eat ani- 

 mal food, and that in considerable quantities. 

 The side-teeth or grinders are numerous, but they 

 have neither canine nor front-teeth. They are of 

 a perfectly innocent and inoffensive nature. The 

 largest species known is the twelve-banded Arma- 

 dillo, which arrives at the length of four feet from 

 the snout to the tip of the tail : all the rest are 

 of a much smaller size, measuring not more 

 than a foot in body, exclusive of the tail. The 

 general colour of Armadillos in a living state 

 seems to be brown, but some are of a very pale 

 or yellowish brown cast ; and all, in a natural state, 

 have the shelly or bony armour covered with a 



