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NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO. 
surface slightly granulated, but not protected by scales. The under surface 
of the body is only covered by a soft leathery skin, as also the legs ; the 
front of each foot is protected by scales for about two inches above the 
toes. 
A few scattered hairs can be observed on the under surface of the body, 
and here and there a single hair along the edges of the plates above ; the 
animal may nevertheless be described as hairless. Mammae, four. 
COLOUR. 
Entire surface of body, ochreous brownish-yellow ; browner along the 
sides of the head and beneath the ears ; feet and nails, yellowish-brown. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Foot. Inches. 
From point of nose to root of tail, - - - - 1 6 
Tail, ■ 8 
Height of ear, 2 
Point of nose to eye, 2 5 
Nose to ear, 44 
Longest nail on fore-foot, 1 
“ on hind-foot, ----- g 
HABITS. 
The Armadillo is not “ a fighting character,” but on the contrary is 
more peaceable than even the opossum, which will at times bite in a 
sly and treacherous manner, quite severely. Indeed nature, whilst giving 
to the Armadillo a covering of horn-plates or scales, which serve to 
protect it from many of its foes, has not supplied it, as she has other non- 
combating animals — the porcupine for instance — with sharp-pointed quills 
or spines, and its only means of aggression are its claws, which although 
large are better adapted for digging than aught else. The animal, how- 
ever, sometimes has been known when caught by the tail, to kick rather 
hard with both fore and hind-legs, so that its captor was glad to let go, for 
it possesses great strength in the limbs. A friend of ours who formerly 
resided in South America had a pet Armadillo in his bed-chamber, where 
it generally remained quiet during the day, but in the dark hours was active 
and playful. One night after he had gone to bed, the Armadillo began 
dragging about the chairs and some boxes that were placed around the 
room, and continued so busily engaged at this occupation that our friend 
