tinues to climb, every motion being incredibly slow and languid. When the Sloth once gets into a tree, we are told that it will not descend while a leaf or bud is remaining; and, in order to save the slow and laborious descent which it would otherwise be obliged to make, it sometimes suffers itself to fall to the ground, its tough skin, and thick, coarse hair, sufficiently securing it from injury. Occasionally the Sloths will suspend themselves by their claws from the branches of trees, and, thus hanging, a branch may be cut off, and they will fall with it rather than quit their hold. A Sloth that was taken by some person who went out in the expedition under Woodes Rogers, was brought on board the ship, and put down at the lower part of the mizen shrouds. It climbed to the mast-head; but occupied two hours in what a monkey would have performed in less than half a minute. It proceeded with a very slow and deliberate pace, as if all its movements had been directed by machinery.

These animals are always most active during the night, at which time they utter their plaintive cry, ascending and descending in perfect tune, through the hexachord, or six successive musical intervals. When the Spaniards first arrived in America, and heard this unusual noise, they fancied they were near some nation, the people of which had been instructed in European music.

When kept in a house, the Sloth never rests on the ground, but always climbs upon some post or door to repose. If a pole be held out to one of these animals when on the ground, it will immediately lay hold of it; and, if these be afterwards fixed upright, will climb to the top, and there firmly adhere.

THE TWO-TOED SLOTH.

TWO-TOED SLOTII.

The two-toed Sloth is considerably larger than the preceding species, and differs from it principally in having only two claws, on each of its fore-feet.

It is a native of Ceylon and the East Indies.

This animal, although heavy and excessively awkward in its mo

THE GREAT ANT-EATER.

85

tions, has suficient activity to ascend into and descend from the loftiest trees, several times in the course of a day. Like the last species, he is chiefly alert in the evenings and during the night.

The Marquis de Montmirail, some years ago, purchased one of these animals at Amsterdam. It had been fed with sea-biscuit, but he was told, that, as soon as the winter was over, and the verdure began to appear, it would require nothing but leaves. The creature was consequently supplied with leaves. These he ate freely while they were green and tender; but the moment they began to be dry, shrivelled, or worm-eaten, he refused them. During the three years that the marquis had him, his common food was bread, apples, roots, and milk; but he was so heavy and inanimate, that he did not even recognize the hand that fed him.

The most natural position of this animal, and which he preferred to all others, was that of suspending himself on the branch of a tree, with his body downward. He sometimes even slept in this position, his fore-claws fastened nearly on the same point, and his body describing the figure of a bow. The strength of his muscles was almost incredible; but this became useless to him when he walked.

OF THE ANT-EATERS IN GENERAL.

The Ant-eaters, as they subsist entirely on insects, have no teeth. Their tongue which is long worm-like and covered with a kind of glutinous moisture, is the only instrument by which they seize their food. Instead of teeth, they have, however, certain bones, not unlike teeth, that are situated deep in the mouth, near the entrance of the gullet. The mouths of the whole tribe are lengthened into a somewhat tubular form.

The body of the Great Ant-eater is covered with exceedingly coarse and shaggy hair. Its head is very long and slender, and the mouth but just large enough to admit its tongue, which is cylindrical, nearly two feet in length, and lies folded double within it. The tail is of enormous size, and covered with long, black hair, somewhat like the tail of a horse. The whole animal, from the end of the snout to the tip of the tail, is sometimes eight or nine feet in length.

The food of this very singular animal consists principally of Ants, and these he obtains in the following manner. When he comes to an Ant hill, he scratches it up with his long claws, and then unfolds his slender tongue, which much resembles an enormously long worm.

This being covered with a clammy matter or saliva, the Ants adhere to it in great numbers: then, by drawing it into his mouth, he swallows thousands of them alive; and he repeats the operation till no more are to be found. He also tears up the nests of wood-lice, which he in like manner discovers; and frequently climbs trees in quest of these insects, and of wild bees or their honey. But should he meet with little success, in his pursuit of food, he is able to fast for a considerable time, without inconvenience.

The motions of the Ant-eater are in general very slow. He, however, swims over great rivers with sufficient ease; and, on these occasions, his tail is always thrown over his back. With this extraordinary member, when asleep, or during heavy showers of rain, the animal also covers its back; but at other times he trails it along, and sweeps the ground.

It is said that these animals are tameable, and that, in a domestic state, they will pick up crumbs of bread, and small pieces of flesh. They are natives of Brazil and Guiana. The females have one youngone at a birth; and this does not arrive at maturity till it is four years old.

When on the ground, the Ant-eater moves with much apparent awkwardness, always resting on the heel of its long feet. But it is able to climb with great ease. Though destitute of teeth, and generally inclined to shun contention, yet, when it is attacked, and its passions are roused, it is a fierce and dangerous antagonist. If it can once seize its enemy within the grasp of its fore-feet, it fixes the claws into his sides, and both fall together; and it frequently

THE LONG-TAILED MANIS.

87

happens that both perish; for the perseverance of the Ant-eater is so obstinate, that it will not extricate itself even from a dead adversary. Such is its strength, that even the panthers of America are often unequal to it in combat.

OF THE MANIS TRIBE.

These animals have no teeth. Their mouth is long and tubular, and the tongue cylindrical and extensile. The body is covered on the upper parts with scales; and, beneath, it is either naked or clad with hair.

In their general appearance, these animals greatly resemble the lizards. Their form, and the scales with which all the upper parts of their body are covered, would induce a casual observer to believe that they were really allied to the reptile tribes. This, however, is by no means the case; they are truly mammiferous animals, bringing forth living offspring, and nourishing them in the same manner as other quadrupeds.

pointed scales, of a deep brown color, with a glossy or polished surface. The under parts are

LONG TAILED MANIS.

clad with hair. On each of the feet there are four toes.

Toxil

THE SHORT-TAILED MANIS.

The short-tailed Manis is much thicker in proportion to its length than the last species: the tail also is considerably shorter; and on each of the feet there are five toes. This animal sometimes grows to the length of six feet and upwards.

The scales with which the bodies of these extraordinary creatures are covered, are not attached to the skin by their whole under surface, but only by their lower extremity; and thus, like the quills of the porcupine, they are moveable at pleasure. When exasperated, the animals erect them; and when attacked, they roll themselves into a ball, and present to their enemy a surface armed on every side. The scales are sharp at the points, and of a substance so hard, that, on collision, they will strike fire like flint.

To escape from their foes by swiftness of foot would be utterly impracticable; and their Creator has not endowed them with powers for offensive resistance; but, when they thus act on the defensive, no animal whatever is able to overcome them. The tiger and panther may tread upon, may roll them about, and attempt to devour them; but all their efforts are vain, and where they expected an easy prey they find only weapons which wound them in every attempt to obtain it. Of all the quadrupeds, without excepting even the porcupine, the armor of the Manis is the strongest, and at the same time the most defensive.

The mode in which these animals feed, is similar to that of the Ant-eaters. Their tongue, which is long, cylindrical, and covered with a viscous fluid, is the instrument by which their subsistence is derived. They lie down in places frequented by insects; and extending their tongue upon the ground, the insects are attracted by the moisture, and eagerly run upon it in great numbers. When the animal finds that it is sufficiently covered, he suddenly withdraws it and swallows its prey.

Both the species of Manis are natives of Africa and the East Indies. The Negroes eat their flesh, which is white, and considered by them as delicate food. The scales are used for various purposes.

OF THE ARMADILLO TRIBE.

These animals are destitute both of cutting and canine teeth; but they have several grinders. They are distinguished from each other by the number of flexible bands of which their shell is composed.

Instead of hair, the body of the Armadillo is covered with a kinl of plate armor. And as in its structure, the Manis reminds us of the lizards, so the shell with which the Armadillo is clad, presents vs with at least a distant resemblance of the tortoise. These are inoffensive animals. They are natives almost exclusively of the New Continent: they live in burrows or holes which they form in the ground; and feed on roots, fruit, vegetables, and insects.

THREE BANDED ARMADILLO.

THE THREE-BANDED ARMADILLO.

The Three-banded Armadillo is about twelve inches long, and eight broad, exclusive of the tail, which is two inches in length. The body is nearly covered with a shell: this, on the shoulders and rump, consists of five cornered pieces, very regularly arranged; and round the body are three belts of shell, composed of square or oblong pieces, having on each several scales of a yellowish white color. All the pieces of this armor are connected by a membrane, like the joints in the tail of a lobster; and they slide so easily over each other, as to allow of free motion to the limbs.