STRANGE DWELLINGS . 
24 
even those of the hind legs are remarkably strong in proportion 
to the size of the animal. The fore paws are enormously large, 
palm-shaped, and furnished with five strong, curved, and com- 
pressed claws, so as to form admirable digging instruments. 
The snout is rather long and pointed, and, as in the mole, the 
eyes are very small, and hidden under the soft dense fur. 
It is a native of Chili, and seems to be of -rare occurrence, 
though it may probably be more plentiful than is generally 
imagined, its subterranean habits and timid nature seldom per- 
mitting it to be seen. Like the mole, it lives beneath the earth, 
scooping out long galleries in the soil, and probablv feeding upon 
insects, worms, and grubs like the rest of the edentate animals. 
The chief point of interest which strikes an observer when 
looking at a Pichiciago, is the cuirass with which its body is 
defended. It is made and arranged in a very peculiar manner. 
The cuirass looks as if a number of squared plates of horn had 
been sewn upon short lengths of tape, and then the tape bands 
laid side by side and fastened to each other. It is not fixed to the 
animal throughout its whole extent, as might be supposed, but 
is only attached along the spine, and on the top of the head. It 
does not merely protect the back, but when it reaches the inser- 
tion of the tail, turns suddenly downwards as if on hinges, and 
forms a kind of flap over the hind-quarters, which are short and 
square, as if abruptly cut off .by a perpendicular blow with a 
sharp instrument. This arrangement .affords a perfect protec- 
tion to the hind-quarters while the animal is burrowing, and 
effectually repels any attack that might be made from the rear, 
reminding the observer of the shell with which the testacella 
is furnished. 
This coat of mail is as flexible as the chain or scale armour 
of the olden times, and accommodates itself to every movement 
of the animal. The rest of the body is covered with a coat of 
soft, yellowish fur, nearly as fine as that of the mole, and much 
longer, but not so dense. The scientific name of the Pichiciago 
relates to the marl-clad body and the peculiar form of the hind- 
quarters, the generic title signifying ‘ mantle- bearer/ and the 
specific name, ‘ abruptly shortened.’ 
