THE SIX-BANDED ARMADILLO. 



Generic Characters. 

 Without either cutting or canine teeth. 



Head and upper part of the body guarded by a cruftaceous covering; the 

 middle by pliant, cruftaceous bands, formed of various fegments, reaching 

 from the back to the edges of the body. 



Synonims. 

 Tatou, Belon Obf. 211. Raii Syn. Quad. 



Tatu et Tatu paba, Brafil: Armadillo, Hifpanis, Lufitanis: 



Encuberto, Marcgrave Brafil, 131. 

 Cataphractus scutis duobus, Cingulis sex, Brifon Quad. 25. 

 Dasipus sex-cinctus, Linn. Syjl. 54. 



L'Encoubert, ou le Tatou a six Bandes, de Bitffbn, x. 209. 

 tab. xlii. 



THIS extraordinary animal, as well as all the other fpecies of this kind, 

 was wholly unknown to naturalifts, before the difcovery of America, being 

 only found on that continent. Mild and peaceful in its nature, it is equally 

 incapable of giving offence to other creatures, as it is of defending itfelf 

 againft their attacks; and, were it hot for the fecurity it finds in the ftrong 

 covering with which nature has armed it, the whole of its life would be in 

 perpetual danger. The Ihell, or rather fliells, with which this animal is 

 covered, differ from the ihell of the Tortoife, in being unconnected with the 

 ikeleton of the animal; the ihell of the Tortoife is united with the back-bone 

 and ribs, whereas, the fhells of the Armadillo form a moveable covering, 

 which is connected only with the fkin, and completely eclipfes the real 



