Aug. 1833. 



ARMADILLOES. 



113 



the cause of this, he bitterly complained of the little casarita, 

 several of which I afterwards observed at work. It is 

 rather curious, that although they were constantly flitting 

 over the low wall, they must be quite incapable of gaining 

 an idea of thickness even after the shortest circuitous 

 route, for otherwise they would not have made so many vain 

 attempts. I do not doubt that each bird, as often as it came 

 to daylight on the opposite side, was greatly surprised at 

 the marvellous fact. 



I have already mentioned nearly all the mammalia common 

 in this country. Of armadilloes three species occur, namely, 

 the Dasypus minutus or 'pichy, the Villosus or peludo, and 

 the apar. The first extends as far south as lat. 50°, which 

 is about ten degrees further than any other kind. A 

 fourth species, the Mulita, only extends as far south as 

 the Sierra Tapalguen, lat. 37° 30', which is north of Bahia 

 Blanca. The four species have nearly similar habits ; the 

 peludo, however, is nocturnal, while the others wander by 

 day over the open plains, feeding on beetles, larvae, roots, 

 and even small snakes. The apar, commonly called mataco, 

 is remarkable by having only three moveable bands ; the rest 

 of its tesselated covering being nearly inflexible. It has the 

 power of rolling itself into a perfect sphere, like one kind of 

 English woodlouse. In this state it is safe from the attack 

 of dogs ; for the dog not being able to take the whole in its 

 mouth, tries to bite one side, and the ball slips away. The 

 smooth hard covering of the mataco offers a better defence 

 than the sharp spines of the hedgehog. The pichy prefers 

 a very dry soil, and the sand-dunes near the coast, where for 

 many months it can never taste water, is its favourite resort. 

 In the course of a day^s ride, near Bahia Blanca, several were 

 generally met with. The instant one was perceived, it was 

 necessary in order to catch it, almost to tumble off one's 

 horse ; for if the soil Avas soft, the animal burrowed so quickly, 

 that its hinder quarters had almost disappeared before one 

 could alight. The pichy likewise often tries to escape 

 notice, by squatting close to the ground. It appears almost 



VOL. III. I 



