WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 187 



which would inevitably be the case, did their 

 points come in actual contact with the ground ; for 

 his claws have not that retractile power which is 

 given to animals of the feline species by which 

 they are enabled to preserve the sharpness of 

 their claws on the most flinty path. A slight in- 

 spection of the fore-feet of the ant-bear, will im- 

 mediately convince you of the mistake artists and 

 naturalists have fallen into, by putting his fore- 

 feet in the same position as those of other quad- 

 rupeds ; for you will perceive that the whole outer 

 side of his foot is not only deprived of hair, but 

 is hard and callous ; proof positive of its being in 

 perpetual contact with the ground. Now, on the 

 contrary, the inner side of the bottom of his foot 

 is soft and rather hairy. 



There is another singularity in the anatomy of 

 the ant-bear, I believe, as yet unnoticed in the 

 page of natural history. He has two very large 

 glands situated below the root of the tongue. 

 From these is emitted a glutinous liquid, with 

 which his long tongue is lubricated when he puts 

 it into the ants' nests. These glands are of the 

 same substance as those found in the lower jaw of 

 the woodpecker. The secretion from them, when 

 wet, is very clammy and adhesive, but on being 

 dried it loses these qualities, and you can pul- 

 verize it betwixt your finger and thumb ; so that, 

 in dissection, if any of it has got upon the fur of 

 the animal, or the feathers of the bird, allow it to 

 dry there, and then it may be removed without 

 leaving the least stain behind. 



The ant-bear is a pacific animal. He is never 

 the first to begin the attack. His motto may be, 



