THE SLOTH TRIBE.*

IN this tribe there have been hitherto only three species discovered, two of which are principally found in South America. Their motions are unparalleled in the rest of the animal creation, for slowness and inactivity. The feet are furnished with strong hooked claws to enable them to climb the trees, where they devour both the leaves and fruit. Their teats are seated on the breast; and in two of the species it is a remarkable circumstance, that instead of distinct excretory apertures, there is only one common canal, as in Birds.†

The Sloths have no cutting-teeth in either jaw: the canine-teeth are obtuse; and the grinders five on each side. Their fore-legs are much longer than the hind ones, and the body is covered with hair.

THE THREE-TOED SLOTH.§

Of the Three-toed Sloth, which is a native of the hotter parts of South America, we have a most

Kerr, i. 102.

* The Linnæan Order, BRUTA, commences with the Sloths. + Elements of Natural History, i. 79. SYNONYMS.-Bradypus Tridactylus.-Linn.-Sloth. Edwards. Luyart. Nieuhof.-Haut. Nieremb.-Ai. Buffon. Three-toed Sloth, -Shaw's Gen. Zool, pl. 45.-Bew, Quad. 457.

Penn.

curious, though often-quoted, account, written by Kircher, principally from the Provincial of the Jesuits, an intimate friend, in America, who had several of these animals in his possession, and tried many experiments with them relative to their nature and properties. "Its figure is, (he says) extraordinary it is about the size of a Cat, has a very ugly countenance, and claws extended like fingers. It sweeps the ground with its belly, and moves so slowly that it would scarcely go the length of a bow-shot in fifteen days, though constantly in motion: hence it obtained the name of Sloth. It lives generally on the tops of trees, and employs two days in crawling up, and as many in getting down again. Nature has doubly guarded it against its enemies, first, by giving it such strength in its feet, that whatever it seizes, it holds so fast, that it can never be freed, but must there die of hunger. Secondly, in having giving it such an affecting countenance, that when it looks at any one who might be tempted to injure it, it is almost impossible not to be moved with compassion; it also sheds tears, and upon the whole persuades one that a creature so defenceless and so abject ought not to be tormented.

"To try an experiment with this animal, the Provincial had one of them brought to the Jesuit's College at Carthagena. He put a long pole under

*This seems to be an erroneous assertion, for although in their progressive powers they are extremely inactive, yet all other writers that we have consulted agree in their being able to travel at least fifty or sixty paces in a day.

its feet, which it seized very firmly, and would not let go again. The animal, therefore, thus voluntarily suspended, was placed between two beams, where it remained without food for forty days, its eyes being always fixed on those who looked at it, who were so affected that they could not forbear pitying its dejected state. At length, being taken down, a dog was let loose on it, this, after a while the Sloth seized in its claws, and held till he died of hunger."*

Linnæus says of it, "that its cry is horrible, and its tears piteous."+

In ascending the trees this animal carelessly stretches one of its fore-paws, and fixes its long claw as high as it can reach. It then heavily raises the body, and gradually fixes the other paw: and in this manner continues to climb, every motion being incredibly slow and languid. When the

Sloth once gets into a tree, it is said never to descend while a leaf or bud is remaining; and it is added, that in order to save the slow and laborious descent which it would otherwise be obliged to make, it suffers itself to fall to the ground; its tough skin, and thick coarse hair sufficiently securing it from any unpleasant effect in its fall. Sometimes they will suspend themselves by their claws from the branches of trees, and in this situation a branch may be cut off, and they will fall rather than quit their hold. One that was taken

Musurgia, Tom. I. lib. ii. c. 6. † Linn. Gmel. i, 51.

Buff

Quad. vii. 164.

by some person of the expedition under Woodes Rogers, was brought on board one of the vessels, and put down at the lower part of the mizen shrowds. He climbed to the mast-head; occupying two hours, in what a Monkey would have performed in less than half a minute. He proceeded with a very slow and equal pace, as if all his movements had been directed by machinery.*

They 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 our music.+

When kept in a house the Sloth never rests on the ground, but always climbs on some post or door for repose. If a pole is held out to it, when on the ground, it will immediately lay hold, and, if it is fixed, climb to the top, and firmly adhere to it.t

In its general appearance it is extremely uncouth; the body is thick; the fore-legs short; the hinder ones far longer; the feet very small, but armed with three most excessively strong and large claws, of a curved form and sharp-pointed. The head is small; the face short, naked, and of a blackish colour; the eyes are small, black, and round: the ears are also small, and lie close to the head. The hair on

Woodes Rogers, 245. + Kircher's Musurgia. Buffon, vii. 164.

the top of the head projects over, and gives to the animal a very peculiar and grotesque physiognomy. Its general colour is a greyish brown, and the hair is moderately long, and extremely coarse, covering the body, and especially about the back and thighs, very thickly.

The female produces one young one, which she frequently carries on her back.t

THE ANT-EATER TRIBE.

THE Ant-eaters, living entirely on insects, are totally devoid of teeth; their tongue, which is long, wormlike, and covered over with a kind of glutinous moisture, being the only instrument by which they take 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 is covered with hair.t

THE GREAT ANT-EATER.§

The body of the Great Ant-eater is covered over with very long shaggy hair: its head is very long

† Linn. Gmel. i. 52.

§ SYNONYMS.-Myrmecophaga Jubata. Linn.-Tamandua-guacu. Marcgrave.-Tamanoir. Buffon.-Great Ant-eater. Penn.Shaw's Gen. Zool. pl. 49.-Bew. Quad. 459.