MAMMALIA. 



393 



fig. 31L— ABUAi>n.i.o. 



any other part of the globe. They extent! from the banks of 

 the Orinoco, through the whole of South America, and occupy 

 the lower regions of 

 the Andes, to the 

 same elevation as the 

 Sloths, about 3000 

 feet.* Their food is 

 partly of animal and 

 partly of vegetable 

 substances and fruits. 

 One species known as 

 the Giant Armadillo, 

 is more than three feet in length. The others are small in 

 size, and compared with the remains of an extinct species,t 

 now in the Museum of the College of Surgeons, London, are 

 as diminutive as the existing Tortoises, contrasted with the re- 

 mains of that colossal species already mentioned {ante, p. 278) 

 from the Himalayan mountains. 



The Sloths [Jiradijpiis), of which there arc only four 

 species, are found from the southern limits of Mexico to Rio 

 de Janeiro. J Their food consists exclusively of leaves and 

 fruits. The Sloth has been spoken of by naturaUsts of high 

 reputation as disproportioned in its parts, grotesque, imperfect, 

 to whom existence must be a burden. Such opinions have 

 been exploded by a better knowledge of the habits of the 

 animal. It is not destined to live upon the earth, but among 

 the branches of trees, and not oil them like the Squirrel, but 

 under them. These things being known, its sujjposed defects 

 turn out in reality to be perfections ; and all its structural 

 peculiarities but so many new adaptations of the animal frame 

 to new functions, each declaring how presumptuous is man, 

 who in his ignorance dares to question the consummate wi.sdom 

 and perfection dis])layed in all the works of Nature. 



We are indebted to the kindness of Mr. R. Ball, the zealous 



• Berghaiis and Johnston's Atlas. 



t It is fully described by Prufessor Owen in a separate memoir, and named 

 Ghjptodon, from tlie Cireek Glyplos, sculptured; wloiis, tootli. Dofi/piu, from 

 the Greek dasys, hairy; ;joi/.«-, a foot 



X Dratiiipus, Gr. bradys, tardy, slow; pous^ a foot, being nearly the same 

 as the Latin term Tardiyradus, slow-pacwl. 



Some of the flesh-eaters bting in the habit of rooting for their food, have 

 been termed Kffodientia, or diggers. These terms are not in all cases 

 descriptive of the habits. 



