150 SLOTH. 



from which it follows, that supposing him to proceed 

 without interruption, nearly a month must elapse in 

 travelling a single mile. 



The nutriment of these quadrupeds consists 

 of the leaves of trees, the branches of which they 

 ascend with considerable difficulty. After devour- 

 ing every green leaf, they suffer themselves to fall 

 upon the ground, in order to avoid the trouble of 

 descending. This, however, they apparently never 

 resolve to do, unless in actual want. The putting 

 of themselves in motion seems an effort which they 

 would gladly escape, but when the demands of na- 

 ture become too imperious to be resisted, they 

 roll into a ball, then drop from off the branch to 

 which they clung, and after much consideration, 

 journey heavily along to another tree in quest of 

 leaves. Yet this long abstinence, which lasts occa- 

 sionally for at least fifteen days, is apparently less 

 the effect of indolence than of that peculiar organi- 

 zation, which makes it difficult to move. It is also 

 asserted that the Sloth seldom, if ever, drinks ; and 

 his thick fur forms a kind of mantle which shelters 

 him from the sun. 



The second species is the Anau, or Two-Toed 

 Sloth, of Pennant (B. didactylus). 



Although this animal is very heavy, and his walk 

 vaccillating, he is not so slow in his movements as 

 the Ai ; yet his pace is seldom quicker than that of 

 a tortoise. Like his brother, the Common Sloth, he 

 Inhabits the southern regions of America, through 

 an extent of country from the Brazils to Mexico. 



We cannot fathom in various instances the design 

 of Providence with regard to the construction of his 



