'

"`Berry like a pig--maybe more belike ole 'possum, but cubberd all ober
wi' shell like a Vaginny turtle.'

"`Oh! then--it is an armadillo.'

"`An amadiller! Cudjo niver hear o' dat varmint afore.'

"I saw that the animal which had so astonished my companion was one of
those curious living things--which Nature, in giving variety to her
creatures, has thought proper to form--and which are known throughout
Mexico and South America by the name of `armadilloes.' They are so
called from the Spanish word `armado,' which signifies armed--because
all over their body there is a hard, shell-like covering divided into
bands and regular figures, exactly like the coats-of-mail worn by the
warriors of ancient times. There is even a helmet covering the head,
connected with the other parts of the armour by a joint, which renders
this resemblance still more complete and singular. There are many
species of these animals; some of them as large as a full-sized sheep,
but the generality of them are much smaller. The curious figuring of
the shell that covers them differs in the different species. In some
the segments are squares, in others hexagons, and in others, again, they
are of a pentagonal shape. In all of them, however, the figures have a
mathematical form and precision, that is both strange and beautiful.
They look as though they were artificial,--that is, carved by the hand
of man. They are harmless creatures, and most of the species feed upon
herbs and grass. They do not run very nimbly, though they can go much
faster than one would suppose, considering the heavy armour which they
carry. This, however, is not all in one shell, but in many pieces
connected together by a tough, pliable skin. Hence they can use their
limbs with sufficient ease. They are not such slow travellers as the
turtles and tortoises. When they are pursued and overtaken, they
sometimes gather themselves into a round ball, as hedgehogs do; and if
they should happen to be near the edge of a precipice they will roll
themselves over to escape from their enemy. More often when pursued
they betake themselves to their holes, or to any crevice among rocks
that may be near; and this was evidently the case with that which Cudjo
had surprised. When they can hide their heads, like the ostrich they
fancy themselves safe; and so, no doubt, thought this one, until he felt
the sinewy fingers of Cudjo grasping him by the tail. It was evident
the animal had