292 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



appropriate one. In all, the toes are furnished with long and 

 powerful claws. 



The Edentata admit of division into two sections, accord- 

 ing as they live upon a vegetable diet and live in trees, or are 

 carnivorous and live upon or below the ground. In the first 

 section are only the Sloths (Bradypodidce) , which are exclu- 

 sively confined to South America, inhabiting the vast primeval 

 forests of this continent. They are in every way adapted for 

 an arboreal life, and are " destined to be produced, to live, and 

 to die on trees." They are excessively awkward when upon 

 the ground ; but the feet are furnished with extremely long, 

 curved claws, so that the animal is enabled to move about 

 freely, suspended back downward from the branches of the 



FIG. 144. Edentata. (Chlamyphorus triwcatw.) 



trees. The Armadillos (Dasypodidce) are also exclusively 

 confined to South America ; but they are carnivorous, burrow- 

 ing animals, and are furnished with strong digging-claws. 

 The upper surface of the body is covered with a kind of armor, 

 formed of hard, bony plates or shields, which are united at 

 their edges (Fig. 144). Most of them can roll themselves up 

 into a ball, and they can all bury themselves in the ground 

 when pursued. 



The remaining South American Edentates are the hairy 

 Ant-eaters, of which the best known is the great Ant-eater 

 (Myrmecophaga jubata). The body in this family is covered 

 with hair, the tail is long, and the teeth are altogether want- 

 ing. They feed chiefly upon ants and termites, which they 



