250 A BOOK-LOVER'S HOLIDAYS 



neither flee nor hide; and it seems a marvel 

 that they could have held their own in the 

 land against the big cats and sabretooth. Yet 

 they persisted for ages, and spread northward 

 from South America. It is hard to account for 

 this. But it is just as hard to account for cer- 

 tain phenomena that are occurring before our 

 very eyes. While journeying through the in- 

 terior of Brazil I not infrequently came across 

 the big tamandua, the ant-bear or ant-eater. 

 We found it not only in the forests but out on 

 the marshes and prairies. It is almost as big 

 as a small black bear. In its native haunts it 

 is very conspicuous, both because of its size 

 and its coloration, and as it never attempts to 

 hide it is always easily seen. It is so slow that 

 a man can run it down on foot. It has no teeth, 

 and its long, curved snout gives its small head 

 an almost bird-like look. Its fore paws, armed 

 with long, digging claws, are turned in, and it 

 walks on their sides. It is long-haired and 

 thick-hided, colored black and white, and with 

 a long, bushy tail held aloft; and as it retreats 

 at a wabbly canter, its brush shaking above 

 its back, it looks anything but formidable. 

 Yet it is a gallant fighter, and can inflict severe 

 wounds with its claws, as well as hugging with 

 its powerful fore legs; and if menaced it will 



