NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO. 191 



merous flat, rounded scales or tubercles, with 

 smaller ones interposed : the ears are moderately 

 large, and upright; the tail is longer than in any- 

 other species, and tapers gradually to the tip. It 

 is marked by transverse rows of longish hexago- 

 nal divisions on each joint: on the fore feet are 

 four toes, and five on the hind : the claws mode- 

 rately large and strong. 



VAR. 



Though this species preserves, in general, its 

 specific character of nine bands; yet this is not al- 

 ways to be depended on, since specimens some- 

 times occur in which only eight bands are visible. 

 A specimen of this kind occurs in the British Mu- 

 seum ; and the Count de Buffon assures us, that 

 he has observed two specimens with eight bands 

 only, which in every other respect perfectly re- 

 sembled the nine-banded ones. He is, therefore, 

 of opinion (and in this we clearly agree with 

 him), that the number of bands, in this species, 

 constitutes not a specific, but a sexual difference : 

 the eight-banded one he supposes to be the male. 

 The general colour of this species is a palish iron- 

 grey ; but specimens often occur in Museums of 

 a yellowish-brown cast, having probably lost a 

 part of their original tinge. The scales on the 

 anterior and hinder parts are also sometimes of 

 an angular form instead of round. 



The young specimens of this animal also exhi- 

 bit a difference as to the pattern or marking of 



