SOME TOOTHLESS MAMMALS 



49 



over its back, covering and concealing its young, which 

 were standing on it. The huge tail is an umbrella as well, 

 and must afford its owner no little protection from the sun. 

 No stranger animal can be imagined, and with its long 

 head and small eyes, it excites the liveliest curiosity. 

 It is large and powerful, and lives almost entirely upon 

 the white ants, 

 tearing down 

 their nests with 

 its strong claws 

 and licking up 

 the enraged 

 swarms with its 

 long tongue. 

 In walking, the 

 animal is dis- 

 commoded by 

 its claws and 

 forced to step 

 on the side of 

 its feet. AI- 



FiG. 34. — Giant Ant-eater. 



though slow in its movements, it is an adversary not to be 

 trifled with. Natives have been killed by a downward 

 blow of its daggerlike claws. The specimen that I saw 

 was perfectly docile. It licked my hand and rubbed its 

 curious bill-like head against my arm like a cat. 



The little ant-eater is almost as much of a tree climber 

 as the sloths and is rarely found elsewhere than among 

 the branches of some favorite tree. 



Incased in perfect armor, the armadillos represent a 

 family having a very ancient ancestry. In the deposits 



HOLDER, MAMMALS — 4 



