SIX-BANDED ARMADIiXO. 
perhaps,, have anticipated her slow discove- 
ries; since we should have written more for 
science, and less against error. 
The Armadillo is covered, like the tortoise, 
"with a shell, or rather a numher of shells, 
which prevent it's true proportions from be- 
ing immediately apparent. At first view, the 
animal seems a roundish mishapen mass ; with 
a long head, and a very long tail, sticking out 
at the two extremities, as if unconne6led with 
the rest of the body. It is of different sizes, 
from a single foot, or less, in length, to three 
feet and upwards : and is covered w^ith a shell 
divided into several pieces, and folding over 
each other, like the tail of a lobster. The 
differences in the size of these animals, and 
the different dispositions of their armour, as 
divided into a variety of flexible stripes or 
bands, have been generally considered as con- 
stituting so many distinct species, to which suit- 
able names are given : all, however, are 
cloathed with this partial coat of mail, the 
conformation of which is justly esteemed one 
of the greatest curiosities in the ample field 
nature. 
This 
