2. Dasypus minutus.
Dasypus minutus, Auct.
“The northern limit of this species on the Atlantic side of the continent, is (as I was told by the inhabitants) near the southern one of the D. hybridus, namely, 37° 30′. It is extremely abundant on the arid plains near the Sierra Ventana, and likewise in the neighbourhood of the Rio Negro. This species has a range considerably further southward than any other: I obtained specimens at Port Desire, where, however, it is far from common, and at Santa Cruz (in latitude 50°) I saw its tesselated covering lying on the ground. At Bahia Blanca, I found in the stomach of this armadillo, coleoptera, larvæ, roots of plants, and even a small snake of the genus Amphisbæna. All the species, excepting one, wander about by day. At Bahia Blanca, during a morning’s ride, three or four of the D. minutus generally were met with; but, in order to secure them, it was necessary to jump off one’s horse as quickly as possible, otherwise, they would have disappeared by burrowing in the sandy soil. This species often endeavours to escape detection by squatting close to the ground, and remaining motionless.”—D.
1. Didelphis Azaræ.
Didelphis Azaræ, Auct.
“This species is said to inhabit burrows: it is nocturnal, and is very destructive to poultry. The body after death possesses a very offensive odour. My specimen was procured at Maldonado.”—D.
2. Didelphis crassicaudata.
Plate XXX.
Didelphis crassicaudata, Desmarest, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. 2d Ed. ix. p. 425.
—— —— Mammalogie, p. 257, Species 393.
Microuré troisième, ou Macrouré à grosse queue, Azara, Essais sur l’Histoire Nat. des Quad. de la Province de Paraguay, vol. i. p. 284.
D. capite brevi; auribus parvis; colore corporis fuscescenti-flavo subtùs pallidiore; infra oculos flavescente; caudâ crassâ, caput corpusque, quoad longitudinem, ferè æquante; ad basin corporis colore tinctâ, dein nigra, ad apicem albâ.
Description.—Head short; ears small, the posterior edge emarginated near the base, distinctly furnished with hairs; tail slightly exceeding the body in length, very thick at the base; tarsi small; fur moderately long, slightly harsh, and somewhat adpressed (much less woolly than in most Opossums): general tint brownish yellow, under parts paler; anterior angle of the eye and muzzle brown, the tip of the chin, and also the tip of the muzzle on either side whitish; on the cheeks, a little below the eyes, is a patch of yellow which extends round the angle of the mouth: about one-third of the tail is covered with fur of the same colour and character as that on the body; beyond this the tail is black, excepting a small portion, about one inch in length, at the apex, which is white; and the hairs are short, closely adpressed, and scarcely hide the scales which are beneath: the fore portion of each foot is brown: the hairs covering the ears on the outer side are brownish, and those on the inner side of the ear are yellow, but towards the outer margin they are brown. The hairs of the back have the basal half gray, and the apical half ochreous, terminating in yellowish brown; on the belly and underside of neck, the hairs are ochreous, faintly tinted with gray at the base.