110 Quadrupeds. 



THE GREAT ANT-EATER. (Myrmecopliaga julata.) 



THE body of the Great Ant-eater is covered with ex- 

 ceedingly coarse and shaggy hair. Its head is very long 

 and slender, and the mouth but just large enough to ad- 

 mit its tongue, which is cylindrical, nearly two feet in 

 length, and lies folded double within it. The tail is of 

 enormous size, and covered with long black hair, some- 

 what like the tail of a horse. The whole length of the 

 animal, from the end of the snout to the tip of the tail, 

 is sometimes seven or eight feet. Its food consists prin- 

 cipally of ants, which it obtains in the following man- 

 ner : When it comes to an ant-hill, it scratches it up 

 with its long claws, and then unfolds its slender tongue, 

 which much resembles an enormously long worm. This 

 being covered with a glutinous matter or saliva, the ants 

 adhere to it in great numbers : these it swallows alive, 

 repeating the operation till no more are to be caught. 



He also tears up the nests of wood-lice, which it in 

 like manner discovers ; but should it meet with little 

 success in its pursuit of food, it is able to fast for a con- 

 siderable time without inconvenience. The motions of 

 the Ant-eater are in general very slow. It swims, how- 

 ever, over great rivers with ease ; and, on these occa- 

 sions, its tail is always thrown over its back. With 

 this extraordinary member, when asleep, or during 

 heavy showers of rain, the animal is also said to cover 

 its back ; but at other times he carries it extended 

 behind him. The Ant-eater is a native of South 

 America. 



