ARMADILLOS 
Armadillos are in great request with the itinerant 
showmen, who announce the animal as the “ Wonderful 
Hog in Armour ; ” of course the picture outside the show 
rather flatters the animal in size, and occasionally quite 
equals the famous glyptodon, which, according to Professor 
Owen, rivalled the rhinoceros in dimensions. 
Armadillos are said (in almost every book that has been 
published) to feed upon roots, fruit, and other vegetable 
substances ; our experience, however, has proved that 
these animals are feeders upon animal substances, if not 
entirely so, to a great extent. One fact at least would 
lead to this conclusion, they have become amazingly 
abundant in the neighbourhood of the slaughtering places 
of South America, feeding on the offal caused by killing 
a large quantity of cattle, and their vast numbers incline 
one to believe that this food is well suited to them. In 
captivity they feed freely on animal food, such as flesh, 
worms, or insects, small birds, eggs, lizards, and snakes, 
rejecting fruit and vegetable substances. 
They burrow into the earth with wonderful swiftness, 
and most frequently under the roots of trees, rendering it 
most difficult to dig them out. Their movements on the 
surface of the ground are quick and lively, and generally 
at twilight, being nocturnal rather than diurnal in their 
habits. They produce two at a birth, which are at that 
time helpless and blind, and are suckled for some time. 
Armadillos are amazingly strong and muscular, con- 
sequently, taking size into account, they are of great 
weight. The flesh is much sought after, and considered 
delicious eating. 
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