30 FOUR-HANDED FOLK 



fore feet three long claws, on the tips of which 

 he totters about, and on the hind feet five claws, 

 which he plants flatly on the ground. 



It is curious that although many animals as- 

 sume as nearly as possible a spherical shape in 

 sleeping, this little fellow, to whom that shape 

 is so familiar and easy, sleeps, on the contrary, 

 stretched out his full length, resting on the stom- 

 ach, with fore paws laid together straight before 

 him, head flat between the two, and shield arched 

 up over him like a roof. 



Bolita (little ball), as he is called by the na- 

 tives, is said by some travelers to be as expert 

 at tunneling as at ball-making. His enormous 

 claws being admirable digging tools, he is able 

 to burrow in soft earth so rapidly that a man 

 can scarcely seize him before he is out of sight. 

 Underground, if still pursued, he continues his 

 tunnel, and to dig him out, even with all the 

 wit of man in saving labor, is the work of hours. 



The ball armadillo is much sought for by the 

 natives to eat, though, when caught, his innocent, 

 attractive ways often change his destiny from 

 roasting in his own shell to being the cherished 

 household pet and playmate for the children, 

 whose romps and games with the pretty living 

 ball are various and charming to see. 



The baby bolita is one of the drollest of in- 

 fants, dressed from the first in armor complete 



