Tilt: . I Ml 1 11., OR SLOTH BEAU. ::j. 



settle into a firm and white substance, which has the pi..p.-n\ ,,f i.-maimin; untainted .-\.-ti in 

 that heai.-d cliinat>, where, if n<> such j n--aution were taken, it would in a very few boon 

 l>eeome a mass of put n*cent abomination. Tin- prejtared fat is especially valuable for p 

 locks, a- it preserves the bright sN-el fi<n not, ami I|.N-. nut d,,^ with ooniitant service, an Is 

 the awe with almost every other animal i! 



In connect i' 1 1 \\ith this snl.ject it niav ! as well t<> m. -iiiii.il that tin- onlinai \ " Hotter 



nil." >r " in -a Is', foot nil." ma\ I-- pn-paM-d fr tin- iim-t delicate u,.ik in a similar manner. 



If a Imttle nf this nil be placed in tin- sun's rays, ami a few strips nf lead drop] -d int.. the 



-sel, . v Htl n I J ' (?J !;<-, bl IM 10 ;...! i. IN I hi< lowei j .11 1 . f ili.- 



If. Tin- up|M-r jurt, howrxer. i->-maiiis bright an.! limpid as crystal, and by a re|-etitinn of 



th" name process may be so effectually purified that it will nr\-r U- liable to that annoying 



\is.-i. lit \ which di-tra<-ts si, much from tin- value of animal nils that have I..-, n for some time in 



use. It is in this manner that watch maker* purify the nil for the lubrication of the delicate 



,mci \ <.f their trade. 



y little is known of the habits of this Bear while in its wild state, l.ut it would appear 

 from the conduct of two \..iiii_- animals that inhai-ii.-d the same cage in the Zoological Oar- 

 dens, that it must I-- a u>-ntle and all.-. ii..nai.- creatun-. 



is, at all events. Known that the matei-nai Aswail is in the habit of carrying <>n Jier INK k 

 those of her offspring that an- not able t<> make full HM- of their own means of j mi^remion. 



The two animals that \\en- kept in the /<>oloi:i<-al JJaitlens \\en- acciistiime<l t< He clone to 

 each other, ami hili- in that easy position us,-.| to suck their paws after the usual uraine 

 fashion, iittei-ini: at the same time a kind of Ix-arish purr, as an expression of contentment. 

 This sound, although it partakes of the nature of a whine, admixed with the purr, is not with- 

 out a mii-ica! intonation, and may lie heard at some little distance. Indeed, it has not unfre- 

 ([u.-ntly hap]M-ned that the Hear has l>e-n Ix-tniyed to its pursuers by the continuous Bound 

 which it utters while lying half asleep within its den. 



The hair which covers the Ixxly and limbs is of singular length, esjn-cially uj>on the back 

 of the neck and the head, imparting a strange and grotesque appearance to the animal. The 

 color of the fur is of a dce| black, intersjvers.-d here and therewith hairs of a brownish hue. 

 I I Min the breast, a forked patch of whitish hairs is distinctly \isil>|e. When it walks, its 

 fore-feet cross over each other, like those of on accomplished skater when accomplishing the 

 loss-roll," but when it remains in a standing attitude its feet an- planted at some distance 



i each other. 



These Bears seem to be very liable to the loss of their incisor teeth, and even in the skulls 

 of very young animals the teeth have been so long missing that their sockets have lx*'ii tilled 

 up by nature as if no tee,th had ever grown there. On account <>f this curious deficiency, a 

 captured ] "as thought to be a gigantic sloth, and was classed onioni: those animals 



under the name of Hnnlypuf vr*imnt, or I'rsine Sloth. In one work it was candidly descrilied 

 aa the AIIOIIN m. .n- Animal. Other names by which it is known are the Jungle Bear, and the 

 Lnbiahnl or Lipped Bear. 



This last-mentioned title has been given to the animal in consequence of the 

 mobility of it.s long and flexible lips, which it can protrude or retract in a very singular 

 manner, and with which it contort- iis countenance j n to the strangest imaginable grimaces, 

 especially when excit^l ly the exhibition of a piece of bun. an apple, or other similar dainty. 

 It is fond of sitting in a semi-erect position, and of twisting it.s nose and lips about in a j-cu 

 liarly rapid manner, in order to attract the attention of the bystanders, and ever and anon, 

 when it fails to attract the eyes of its visitors, it ships the lips smartly together in hopes to 

 strike their sense of hearing. 



When captured young, it is easily tamed, and can be taught to perform many curiou- 

 antics at the Lid of its master. For this pur]*,-,, it is often catiirht by the nathe m<.imt. 

 banks, who earn an easy subsistence by leading their shaggy pupil through the country, and 

 demanding small sums of money for the exhibition of its qualities. On account of its aaso- 

 tion witli theae wandering exhibitors, it lias been called by the French naturalists "Our* 

 .Jongleur." Whether owing to the natural docility of the animal, or to the sui^rior powers 



