CLASS MAMMALS I ORDER EDENTATA. 



105 



Fig. 175. 



Mg. 17& 



Bradypodidse. The Sloth,* of which there are two 

 varieties the two-toed 

 and three-toed is also 

 peculiar to South Amer- 

 ica. The latter species, 

 called the Ai, from 

 its cry, lives on the 

 under side of the 

 branches of trees, even 

 sleeping suspended 

 back downward. Cling- 

 in o- to a limb with its Bradfous tndactylus, Ai or Three-toed Sloth. &. 



o 



short hind legs, it draws in other boughs with its long fore 



legs, in order to 

 strip off the 

 leaves for food. 

 Dasypocli- 

 dae. The Ar- 

 madillos were so 

 called by the 

 Spaniards from 

 their " coat of 

 mail." This 

 bony armor con- 

 sists of aggluti- 

 nated hairs. 

 The middle is 

 divided into 

 bands, to give 

 freedom of mo- 

 tion. The ani- 

 mal's snout is 



Dasi/pus novemcinctus, Nine-banded Armadillo. . 



* Cuvier said of this family, " Nature seems to have amused herself in producing 

 something imperfect and grotesque." Their fore legs are eo much larger than their 

 hind ones that when they try to walk on the ground they have to drag themselves 

 along on their knees, and they seem awkward enough ; but when moving on the 

 forest trees they are seen to be in harmony with their intended life. In avoiding 

 pursuit they spring from tree to tree with great rapidity, particularly in a gale of 



