146 
THE STORY OF THE ARMADILLO. 
claws give it so great an advantage that it can run with wonderful speed, 
and, if not quickly overtaken, is sure to make its escape into its burrow, 
whence it cannot be turned out except by many an hour of hard digging. 
And its ears, moreover, are so sharp that a hunter finds it very difficult even 
to catch sight of the wary little animal, so that nature has furnished it with 
very useful means of protection from its foes. 
Sometimes, however, before they can become quite concealed, they are 
caught by the tail; and then they resist so powerfully, that the tail often 
breaks short off, and is left in the hands of the pursuers. To avoid this the 
hunter has recourse to artifice; and, by tickling the animal with a stick, 
it looses its hold, and suffers itself to be taken without further trouble. When 
caught, the armadillo rolls itself into a ball, and will not again extend itself 
unless placed near the fire. 
