1891.] On the Genus Chlamydorphorus. 541 
some interesting notes by E. W. White were published in the 
Proceedings of the Zoological Society. Since this, I find scarcely 
an observation or allusion to the subject. 
Apart from its remarkable conformation, a certain interest 
attaches to the animal under consideration, due to its singular 
scarcity. There are but few specimens in the museums of the 
world. In Europe twelve to twenty only are known, and in our 
own country there are not more than six or eight, for some of 
which fabulous prices have been paid. The Pichiciego’s sole 
habitat is in the neighborhood of Mendoza, in the interior of 
Chili, South America, at the base of the Andes, a country well 
noted for its terrible earthquakes. Our knowledge of its habits 
is very limited It is nocturnal; it passes most of the time in 
the sand-burrows which it makes; is extremely timid; is. rarely 
seen, and very rarely captured, except when accidentally discovered 
nestled within the blankets of Indians who are sleeping upon the 
ground. Its food is said to be chiefly that of worms, and in this 
respect, as much as in its general subterranean habits, it resembles 
the European mole. poe 
The entire external surface of the body is covered with a fine, 
white, silken hair, more delicate even than that of the mole. 
Over this is a shield, cloak, or covering, composed of a series of 
plates of a texture which resembles thin sole leather, covering the 
superior portions of the cranium, and extending half round the 
body for its entire length. This “coat of mail” is made up of 
twenty-four cross-series of quadrangular plates, counting from the 
vertex, the posterior edges of each row covering the anterior of 
the one immediately succeeding. The posterior truncation, formed 
by a sudden curving of the shield at a right angle to the body, 
is also composed of plates similar to those upon the back, but 
disposed in half circular rows, of which there are five. The 
lower margin of this surface at about its center presents a notch, 
beneath which passes the caudal extremity, also protected by 
plates. The semicircular margin of the truncated portion, as well 
as the lateral margins of the shield, are fringed with the same 
Silken hair, that of the exterior ring of the truncated portion form- 
_ ing a double, somewhat bristly ridge, standing out at right angles. 
