LIVING BALLS. 29 



Nothing is so droll as two of these odd little 

 creatures pretending to fight. The thing each 

 one tries to do is to bite the ears of his opponent, 

 or with his claws to tear the tough skin between 

 the three bands. They scuffle without much 

 ferocity till one gets a slight advantage, when, 

 presto ! snap ! his enemy has become a ball, and 

 a ball he patiently remains, in spite of the efforts 

 of beast or man, till he has tired out his assailant, 

 or considers it proper to unbend. 



In this shape the armadillo is safe from the 

 attacks of larger animals, with which he could 

 not for an instant cope. The jaguar prowling 

 through the woods in search of food may roll 

 him about, but can neither crush him between 

 his teeth nor force him open with his paw. 

 Monkeys, which, true to their love of fun, de- 

 light in teasing small and harmless animals by 

 pulling them around by the tail, look in vain for 

 a tail to take hold of. It is not unlikely that he 

 enjoys some lively rolling about at the hands of 

 these frolicsome quadrumana, although no such 

 performance has been reported. Only from 

 man, who can take him up and carry him home 

 to unroll at his leisure, is this no protection. 



The apar is an interesting little beast apart 

 from his habit of retiring within his shell. He 

 is lively and playful, and therefore much liked 

 as a pet. His walk is very odd. He has on the 



