Zoological Society, 205 



discover its nurse, or any person to whom it had taken a liking, at a 

 considerable distance. Upon these occasions it would immediately 

 commence the whining sound so peculiar to this animal. It was an 

 expert climber; it happened that I was one of its favourites, and 

 whilst writing on my table it used to come softly behind me, and as 

 soon as it was sure it had found me out, it climbed up my legs 

 with great dexterity. It showed its attachment by licking, and was 

 very gentle and even sportive ; we all prized it highly. It slept a 

 great deal. We had it for nearly two months, and as it began to 

 feed itself we had great hopes of rearing it ; unfortunately we were 

 unable to procure milk, and whether in consequence of the change 

 of food, or some other cause, it gradually declined. I found it some- 

 times as cold as ice, and stiff, and although I recovered it repeatedly, 

 it died one day during my absence. 



" Its place had been meanwhile supplied by an adult specimen, 

 likewise a female. I shall never forget the interesting sight which 

 this individual presented. Some of the Indians belonging to my 

 party, whom I had despatched in quest of game, met it on the sa- 

 vannahs, and wisely attempted to drive it towards San Joaquim 

 without wounding it. My attention was first attracted by an im- 

 mense hue and cry from the persons about the fort, and upon step- 

 ping out the first object which struck me was the Ant-bear, running 

 in a kind of dog gallop towards the houses, and flanked on both 

 sides by the red-skinned Indians, who were furnished with bows and 

 arrows, which they were ready to discharge, should the animal break 

 through their lines. Having arrived at the walls of the fort, it re- 

 treated into one of the corners which a bastion formed, and attempted 

 to climb up by thrusting its nails into some of the larger interstices 

 between the freestone of which the walls are built ; it did not, how- 

 ever, succeed, and we managed to throw a lasso over it. The 

 animal defended itself valiantly, and as the surrounding persons 

 appeared to be afraid of it, it ran a fair chance of slipping the 

 noose ; some of the men more courageous than the rest threw it, 

 however, on the ground, and another noose being fixed to one of its 

 legs, it was secured, and safely lodged in the yard attached to our 

 quarters. In its endeavours to get rid of the rope, which passed 

 round the rump, it chafed itself considerably, and we found it ne- 

 cessary to make a roomy pen, to which it was conveyed. It be- 

 gan to feed on the third day : we gave it Ants and farina ; the 

 latter, a preparation of Cassada root, it never refused. The Ants' 

 nests in the neighbourhood of the fort were soon exhausted, and 

 more in way of experiment than out of persuasion that the animal 



