Uasypid^. JI AMMALIA. UAsyi-iu^ii. J 51 
molars are thirty in number — fourteen below and 
sixteen in the upper series. The ears are largely 
developed, and about two inches from root to tip. 
One of the most distinguishing characteristics is seen 
in the enormous enlargement of the digits of the 
anterior feet. These clearly demonstrate the exalted 
nature of its burrowing powers ; but beyond this little 
is known of its habits. In the catalogue of Edentata 
preserved in the British Museum, this species is de- 
nominated Xemirus unicinctus, 
THE POYOU {Dasypus sexcinctus) is one of the 
commonest forms of armadillo, and is especially abun- 
dant in the province of Paraguay. It is at once 
recognized by its remarkable breadth as compared 
\vith its height. The body measures sixteen inches 
from the tip of the muzzle to the root of the tail ; this 
organ being about eight inches long, and protected at 
the base by three or four osseous plates in the form 
of rings, while throughout the remainder of its extent 
it is covered rvith small scaly tubercles. The limbs, 
as we have hmted, are very short; nevertheless the 
animal is very swift of foot. The head is broad, flat, 
triangular, and truncated at the muzzle ; the ears being 
of moderate size, and widely separated from each other. 
Its habits are similar to those of its congeners ; but as it 
is particularly fond of carrion, its flesh is not considered 
by the Spanish and other European colonists of South 
America to be so good eating, as those species whose 
diet is exclusively vegetable. 
THE HAIRY ARHLADILLO {Dasypus villosus) is 
rather smaller than the above, and is a native of 
Buenos Ayres and the districts south of the Rio de 
la Plata. So abundant is it in the plains of these 
regions, that D’Azara writes as follows : — “ In an 
expedition which I made into tlie interior, between 
the parallels of 35° and 36° south latitude, I met 
with vast multitudes of this species of armadillo ; so 
that there was scarcely an individual of the party 
who did not each day capture one or two at least ; 
for, rmlike the Poyou, which moves abroad only dur- 
ing the night, this animal is to be found at all times, 
and upon being alarmed promptly conceals itself, if 
not intercepted. In March and April, when I saw 
them, they were so extremely fat that their flesh sur- 
feited and palled the aj^petite ; notunthstanding which, 
the pioneers and soldiers ate them roasted, and pre- 
ferred them to beef and veal.” The distinguished 
Spanish offlcer and naturalist further observes, that 
the Hairy Armadillo “ scents the carcasses of dead 
horses from a gi'eat distance, and runs to devour them ; 
but, as it is unable to penetrate the hide, it burrows 
under the body till it finds a place which the mois- 
ture of the soil has already begun to render putrid. 
Here it makes an entrance with its claws, and eats its 
way into the interior, where it continues feasting on 
the putrid flesh till nothing remains but the hide and 
bones ; and so perfectly do these preserve their posi- 
tion, that it is impossible from a mere external view to 
anticipate the operations which the armadillos have 
been carrying on within.” This species does not con- 
struct burrows for the purposes of habitation, and is 
always met with on dry open grounds. It is, as the 
name implies, better provided with hair than obtains 
in the case of its congeners. The bands vary numeri- 
cally, there being usually six or seven. The teeth are 
thirty-two in number, equally divided above and be- 
low. The ears are conspicuously developed ; but tbe 
most characteristic feature of this species arises from 
the sharp, projecting margin of the lateral bands and 
tesselated bucklers at the lower part of the body. 
THE MAT AGO {Dasypus tricinctus) is another very 
interesting form of armadillo living in Brazil, Paraguay, 
and Buenos Ayres. It is also denominated the Bolita 
on account of a propensity to roll itself up into a ball. It 
is nearly as large as the Poyou, excluding the tail, which 
in the Mataco is reduced to a mere appendage scarcely 
more than two inches in length. The limbs and feet are 
rather small and feeble. The head is short, pear-shaped, 
and armed with a cephalic mail ; whilst the bucklers, 
which are made up of osseous polygonal plates somewhat 
irregularly disposed, are strongly developed and sepa- 
rated from each other by three broad, movable bands ; 
this latter character rendering the Mataco distinct 
from all other species of armadillo. The ears are 
comparatively short and rounded. The Mataco is 
rather a scarce animal, probably from the facility with 
which it is captured ; for, when pursued, having no 
burrows wherein to hide itself, and being a slow runnei’, 
its only mode of defence consists in rolling itself up 
into a helpless sphere. 
THE GREAT ARMADILLO {Dasypus gigas) is not 
only distmguished by its great bulk, but also by the 
possession of a multitude of molar teeth, varying in 
number from eighteen to one hundred. Exclusive of 
the tail, the body measures about forty inches in 
length, while the caudal extension would give us some 
sixteen or eighteen inches more. The ears are small, 
but the head is more cylindrical than in the generality 
of species. The humeral and iliac bucklers are made 
up of numerous rows of square-shaped plates, and are 
separated from each other by twelve or more movable 
bands inclosing scutes of a similar character. The 
long tail is comparatively stout at the base, and is 
armed throughout with a close-set mail of osseous 
rings, presenting externally an appearance ot spiral 
lines crossing each other obliquely. The native Botu- 
codos employ this dermal armour of the tail to form 
speaking trumpets, which they use in the densely 
wood-boimd forests of Brazil and Surinam. The digits 
of the fore-feet are enormously developed, as in the 
Tatouay, the middle and fourth toes being furnished 
with large trenchant claws. These digging weapons 
they employ rvith such skill and power, that in bury- 
ing their dead the natives are obliged to place strong 
barriers of stakes, planks, and stones in order to have 
a resting-place for their departed companions, secure 
from the depredations of this gigantic carrion-loving 
armadillo. 
THE PICHICIAGO ( Clilamydophorus truncatus) forms 
the type of a remarkably aberrant genus, in many 
respects closely allied to tbe true armadillos. It is a 
native of Mendoza, on the eastern slopes of the Cordil- 
leras, and of other parts of Chili. In point of size it 
comes very near to the common mole, the body measur- 
ing a trifle more than five inches from before backwards. 
Its anatomy has been very closely investigated by Dr. 
