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THE ARMADILLO. 
composed partly of large irregular pieces, of a 
strong sort of shell, like that of the tortoise, 
covering the shoulders and back, and partly 
of regular hands lying between these, folding 
over one another, and connected by mem- 
branes, like the parts of a lobster’s tail, so as 
to accommodate themselves to all the motions 
of the animal. The number of these bands 
varies in the different species of armadilloes, 
of which there are six, chiefly distinguished 
by the number of shelly bands that envelop 
the body, and all closely resembling each other 
in their habits and way of life. The twelve- 
banded armadillo is the largest of the race, 
being almost three feet in length ; the six- 
banded, common in Brazil and Guiana, and 
represented in the engraving, is about the 
size of a young pig ; and the eighteen-handed 
about fifteen inches long. 
The armadilloes are very harmless animals, 
and live in subterraneous retreats, which they 
