22 ZOOLOGY. 



grinders Hxe in e-Ach }a\v, obliquely truucalej cylindri- 

 cal, the two anterior ones longer, far distant. 



This genus is principally confined to South America, and 

 has acquired its name from the extreme tardiness of the 

 motions of all the species : their food consists of the fruit, 

 leaves and young shoots of trees, and it is said that when 

 one finds a tree the foliage of which is agreeable, it does not 

 quit it while any leaves remain. They are with greatdifficulty 

 obtained alive from their propensity to bite, as though they 

 do not make any attempt to escape, yet they seize any thing 

 with so firm a grasp as hardly to be made to forego their hold 

 but with life ; when attacked by dogs, they ofi'er no re- 

 sistance, but wait some favourable opportunity to seize 

 their assailant, and repeated instances have occurred where 

 Dogs have perished from the severity of their gripe. They 

 are mostly natives of woody situations, 



3. Myrmecophaga. Ant-eater. Teeth wanting ; io9igue 

 cylindrical, extensile ; mouth terminating in a long 

 narrow snout; body covered with hair. 



This genus feeds principally on Ants, (whence their name,) 

 these are procured by thrusting their worm-like tongues into 

 the nests of those insects; and their tongues being viscous, 

 the Ants in endeavouring to pass over them are effectually 

 secured, and when the animals find a number of these littie 

 creatures adhering, they draw them, with their tongues, 

 within their mouths and swallow the insects. All (he species 

 are natives of warm climates; they generally resort to low 

 Avoody situations, particularly where the soil is light and 

 sandy. 



