EDENTATA. 
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The Encoiibert Armadillo, Payoti of Azzara, (D. sexcinctus and ociodecemcinctus, Lin.), which is distinguished 
from the rest of the genus by having a tooth on each side fixed in the intermaxillary bone : its coat of mail has six 
or seven bands, with smooth, large, and angular compartments ; tail middle-sized, and annulated only at its base. 
The richly of Azzara, and an allied species, the Hairy ArmadiUo {Tatou vein, Az.), resemble the Encoubert 
except in wanting the intermaxillary teeth, in having the posterior shell denticulated, and the parts that are not 
plated clad with longer and more close-set hairs. 
A third principal division of these animals exhibits five toes to the fore-feet, but disposed obliquely, 
so that the thumb and index are slender, the latter being longest, the middle one bearing an enormous 
trenchant claw, the next having a shorter claw, and the fifth being shortest of any. This structure 
enables them to cut up the ground, and burrow very rapidly, or at any rate to hold on so firmly to the 
sides of their excavation as to be very difficult to detach. In this subdivision, or 
The Cabassous, — 
There are eight or nine teeth on eaeh side of both jaws. 
Tlie Cabassou propre, Buff. ; Tatouay, d’Azz. ; (Z>. unicinctus, Lin.) — Twelve intermediate bands ; the tail long 
and tuberculated ; the compartments of the bands and skin are square, and broader than long; five toes before, 
of which four are furnished with enormous claws, trenchant on their outer border. It attains a great size. 
The Priodontes, P. Cuv., — 
With five anterior toes still more unequal, and claws even exceeding those of the Cabassous, possess 
twenty-two or twenty-four small teeth on each side above and below, making eighty-eight or ninety-six 
in all. Such is 
The Giant Armadillo {D. gigas, Cuv.) — With twelve or thirteen intermediate bands, a long tail covered with 
imbricated scales, the compartments of which are square, and broader than long. It is the largest species of 
Armadillo, being sometimes three feet in length without the tail. 
At the termination of the Armadillos, as a very distinct subgenus, [genus, or even family, to which 
the colossal Megatherium also appertains], may be placed 
The Chlamyphores {Chlamyphorus, Har.), — 
Wliich have ten teeth on each side of both jaws, five toes on each foot, the anterior claws very large, 
crooked, compressed, and furnishing (as in the Cabassous) a very powerful cutting instrument [adapted 
for digging]. The back is covered with a series of scaly pieces, arranged transversely, without any 
solid buckler either before or behind, but forming a sort of cuirass, which is only connected with the 
body along the spine. The hind part of the body is abruptly truncated, and the tail incurved and 
partially attached to the under part of the body : [it is covered with small scales, and expanded at the 
tip. The osteology of this animal, as given by Mr. Yarrell {Zool. Journ., No. xii.), is considerably allied 
to that of the Cabassous. There is a singular tuberosity on the skull over each eyebrow. 
We know but of one {Chlamyphorus truncatus, Harlan), only five or six inches in length ; it is a native of the 
interior of Chili, where it passes most of its time under ground, [and is either very rare (perhaps verging towards 
extinction), or difficult to obtain on account of its subterraneous habits]. 
N.B. There have been found, in America, some fossil bones of a gigantic Armadillo, which appears to have been 
about ten feet long exclusive of the tail. (See my Ossemens Fossiles, vol. v. part 1, p. 191, note.) 
The Orycteropes {Orycteropus, Geof.) — 
Have been long confounded with the Ant-eaters, inasmuch as they subsist on the same food, have a 
similar-formed head, and a tongue which is somewhat extensible ; but they are distinguished by having 
grinding teeth, and flat claws, adapted for burrowing rather than for cutting open ant-hills. The 
structure of their teeth is different from that of all other quadrupeds ; they are solid cylinders, traversed, 
like reeds, in a longitudinal direction, by an infinitude of little canals. The stomach is simple, and 
muscular towards its outlet, and the coecum small and obtuse. 
Only one species is known of this genus, the Cape Orycterope {Myrmecophaga capensis, Pallas), which the 
Dutch colonists style the Ground Hog. It is an animal about the size of a Badger or larger, low upon the legs, 
with scanty greyish-brown hair, and tail shorter than the body and as little clad. It inhabits burrows, which it 
forms with extreme rapidity ; and its flesh is eaten. 
The remaining Edentata possess no grinders whatever, and consequently have no teeth 
at all. There are two genera. 
