i8o EDENTATA 



arboreal in habits, vegetable feeders, and limited geographically to 

 the forest regions of South and Central America. 



The Sloths, as the animals of this family are called on account 

 of the habitual sluggishness of their movements, are the most strictly 

 arboreal of all mammals, living entirely among the branches of 

 trees, usually hanging under them, with their backs downwards 

 (Fig. 58), and clinging to them with the simple hook-like organs to 

 which the terminations of all their limbs are reduced. When they 

 are obliged from any cause to descend to the ground, which they 

 rarely, if ever, do voluntarily, their limbs, owing to their unequal 

 length and the peculiar conformation of the feet which allows 

 the animals to rest only on the outer edge are most inefficient 



Fio. 58. Two-toed Sloth (Cholaepus hoffmanni). 



for terrestrial progression, and they crawl along a level surface 

 with considerable difficulty. Though generally slow and inactive, 

 even when in their natural haunts, Sloths can on occasions travel 

 with considerable rapidity along the branches ; and, as they do not 

 leap, like most other arboreal creatures, they avail themselves of 

 the swaying of the boughs by the wind to pass from tree to tree. 

 They feed entirely on leaves and young shoots and fruits, which 

 they gather in their mouth, the fore limbs aiding in dragging 

 boughs within reach, but not being used like hands, as they are by 

 monkeys, squirrels, etc. When sleeping they roll themselves up in 

 a ball, and, owing to the dry shaggy character of their hair, are 

 very inconspicuous among the mosses and lichens with which the 



