THREE-BANDED ARMADILLO.. 
of a land animal. This contraction is effected 
by means of two large muscles on the sides qf 
the body; and it is with difficulty that the 
strongest man can force an extension with his 
hands. Piso, and Ray, have added nothing to 
Marcgrave's description. But it is singular 
that Seba, who has given us a figure and de- 
scription nearly the same with those of Marc-, 
grave, should not only omit to mention this 
author, but confidently assert " that this ani- 
" mal is unknown to the naturalist; that it is 
" found in the most remote countries of the 
*' East Indies &c. while, in fact, this Bra- 
silian Armadillo is excellently described by 
Marcgrave, and the species is as common as 
any other — not, indeed, in the East Indies ; but 
in America, where it is very frequently seen. 
The only real difference between the descrip- 
tion of Seba, and that of Marcgrave, is, that 
the latter gives the animal five toes to each 
foot, and the former only four. One of them 
must be wrong ; for they both, evidently de- 
scribe the same animal. 
" Fabius Columna," adds BufFon, «« has 
described and given figures of the dried crust 
of 
