186 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



floor, and thrusting its wedge-like head into every crevice; 

 should any leverage be obtained, the animal at once commences 

 to wrench its way out. I well remember placing my first 

 Armadillo in a cage fronted with stout wire netting of half-inch 

 mesh, and how, as soon as the industrious creature had found a 

 weak spot, it prised up the wirework with its mailed snout, and 

 then setting its broad shoulders and enormous claws busily to 

 work, tore its way through, the staples giving way one after another 

 with irritating rapidity. If turned out for a run on a paved 

 floor the little mailed beast with his Pig-like eyes and pseudo- 

 crustacean armour presents a most odd appearance as he patters 

 about at a great pace on his stumpy legs. Fearless of injury 

 under his natural shield, the Armadillo scrambles over, beneath, 

 or through everything, and objects lighter than himself are 

 promptly upset, so that one can easily credit the story of one of 

 these animals which, when turned out for a run on a billiard 

 table by his admiring owner, soon wrecked it by ripping up the 

 cloth with his claws. I never knew these animals to attempt to 

 bite. If seized hold of they resist by wedging themselves 

 between objects, and also (apparently by accident) scratch if 

 picked up. They soon, however, become tame enough to feed 

 out of the hand. The unspillable zinc vessels now largely sold 

 are best for holding water intended for Armadillos. 



Dasypus sexcincius (Weasel-headed or Six-banded Arma- 

 dillo). — This is a much finer species than the preceding, from 

 which it may be distinguished by the sharper muzzle, the more 

 elegant outlines of the body, and the lighter colour of the 

 armour ; indeed, for an edentate, the Weasel-headed Armadillo 

 may almost be pronounced a handsome animal. A fine male, 

 which I purchased last January, would hiss when picked up, but 

 made no other hostile demonstration. Instead of sleeping on 

 his back like the Hairy Armadillo, this animal reposed on his 

 stomach. Food and treatment the same as D. villosus. 



Marsupialia. 



Trichosurus vulpecula (Vulpine Phalanger). — The Vulpine 

 Phalanger (often mis-called Opossum) resembles a Fox in the 

 sharpness of its muzzle, a Bear in the woolly nature of its fur, 

 and a Cat in the stealthiness of its movements. Adult animals 



