FURRY ANIMALS 



177 



idiot monkey. The most useful parts of his body- 

 are his four stout legs armed with strong claws 

 with which he slings himself like a hammock to 

 the limbs of trees. When he is put down on the 



Photograph by Richter 



Fig. 78. Sloth 



ground these legs become as useless as if the 

 joints had been dislocated. He hooks himself 

 along to the nearest bush by hisi^lbows and knees. 

 Once hung to a limb like a great wad of dr\^ 

 moss, the sloth stays as still as its name would 

 indicate. Sometimes small green plants, called 

 algae, grow among its hair undisturbed, and then 



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