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NATURAL HISTORY. - 61 
tion, was it not that their cry is fo hideous, and la- 
mentable in its tone, as to caufe every beaft to avoid 
-the found. How ought we to admire the wifdom > 
_and providence of the Almitghty, who, by the breath 
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enly of this defencelefs animal, has raifed a bulwark 
for its protection ! ; 
We fhould do injuftice to the great Creator of the 
-Univerfe, who never created any thing in vain, could 
we fuppofe any animal was ever fo formed, as to be 
incapable of comfort; although the floth carries ev- 
ery appearance of mifery in its nature, there cannot 
be a doubt but it has fatisfactions peculiarly fuited to 
its flation. : 
DOO XaAX— 
“ ARMADILLO. 
Nature feems to have referved all the wonders 
of her power for thofe remote countries, where man 
is. moft favage, and quadrupeds the moft various. 
She feems to become more wonderful, in proportion, 
the further fhe retires from human infpection. But 
this, in reality, only arifes from the attempts of man 
to rid the country of fuch ftrange productions, in pro- 
portion as he becomes more civilized. 
- The armadillo, which is covered with fhells, at the 
firft view, appears a round mifhapen mafs, with a long 
head and fhort tail. Its fize is from one to three feet 
in length. Thefe fhells, which’ refemble a bony 
fubftance, cover the head, neck, fides, rump and tail. 
This natural defenfive covering, being ‘jointed, the 
creature has the power of moving beneath its armour, 
which refernbies a coat of mail. 
As thefe fheils gre’only fufficient to defend the ar- 
madiilo frora a feeble enemy, and not equal to the re- 
. fiffance of a powerful antagonift, nature has furnifhed 
“at with eb of encloling its body within the cov- 
of 
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