158 FALL OF A TWO-TOED SLOTH. 



blows, the Sloth begins to travel." In calm weather 

 he remains tranquil, not liking, most probably, to 

 cling to the brittle extremity of the branches, lest 

 they should break under him while passing from 

 tree to tree ; but as soon as the wind rises, the 

 branches of the neighbouring trees are driven to- 

 gether, and then the Sloth seizes hold of them, and 

 safely pursues his journey. Yet his progress is 

 seldom thus impeded, for it rarely happens that the 

 weather is calm for a whole day; the trade-wind 

 generally commences about ten in the morning, and 

 thus assisted the Sloth may set off after breakfast 

 and travel a considerable way before dinner. He 

 journeys in his native forests at a good round pace, 

 and were our naturalists to see him pass from tree 

 to tree, they would never think of calling him a 

 Sloth. 



It is, therefore, evident that the accounts which 

 have been transmitted from father to son respecting 

 this calumniated animal, are erroneous on two ac- 

 counts: first, that the writers of them have not 

 observed him in his native woods; and secondly, 

 that they have described him under circumstances 

 foreign to his nature. " The Sloth," says Waterton, 

 " is as much at a loss how to proceed on his journey 

 upon a smooth and level surface, as an Indian would 

 be who had to walk a mile in stilts upon a line of 

 feather-beds." 



As Waterton was crossing the Essequibo one 

 morning, he saw a large two-toed Sloth on the 

 ground. It was impossible to conjecture how he 

 got there, unless, indeed, he had fallen when asleep, 

 and an Indian said he had never surprised a Sloth 



