.'LETTER XXXIV. 



uny apparent inconveniency, the severity of our cli- 

 mate. 



THE SLOTH 



is a native of South America; but one species of it, 

 called the unau, has been found in the island of Cey- 

 lon. The flesh of both is eaten by the natives of 

 those countries. It is said to belong to the class <A 

 ruminating animals. 



The sloth lives chiefly in trees, and having as- 

 cended one with infinite labour and difficulty, it re- 

 mains there till it has entirely stripped it, leaving 

 neither fruit, blossom, nor leaf; after which, it is said 

 to devour even the bark. Being unable to descend, 

 it throws itself on the ground, and continues mo- 

 tionless until hunger .again compels it to renew its 

 exertions. 



Though slow, and apparently almost incapable of 

 motion, the sloth is very strong, tenacious of life, and 

 patient of abstinence. The strength of its legs and 

 feet are so great, that having seized any thing, it is 

 next to impossible to compel it to quit its hold. One 

 of these animals having laid hold of a dog that was 

 let loose upon it, held him so fast at his feet till he 

 perished with hunger. 



The sloth is about the size of a fox; it is covered 

 with coarse ill-set hair: its nose is very blunt, its 

 eyes black, its ears small, and its mouth extremely 

 wide, extending almost from ear to ear; its legs are 

 thick and clumsy. Itsjrnotions are so slow, that it 

 cannot advance above three yards in an hour : they 

 seem to be made with great efforts, and are always 

 accompanied with the most piteous cries. 



Bufibn observes of this animal, that when kept in 

 a house it never sleeps on the ground, but always 

 climbs on some post or door, for that purpose, if a 

 pole be held out to it on the ground, it will immedi- 

 ately cling to it; and when the pole is elevated, it 

 will immediately climb to the top. The same natu- 

 ralist remarks, that the female sloth produces only 

 one young one at a birth, which she frequently car- 

 ries on her back. 



