NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE ANT-EATER, 



TUB TAMANOIR, AXD THE TAMANDUA. 



SOUTH America produces three species of animals, 

 with a long snout, a small mouth, and no teeth, with 

 tongues of a round form, and remarkably long; with 

 which they penetrate into the ant's nests, and draw out 

 the ants, which is their principal food. The first of these 

 ant-eaters is that which the Brazilians call tamandua ' 

 guacu, or great tamandua, to whom the French that 

 are in America have given the name of tamanoir. 

 This animal is about four feet from the extremity of 

 the snout to the origin of its tail ; his head is fourteen 

 or fifteeen inches long, his snout stretches out to a 

 great length ; his tail, two feet and a half long, is co- 

 vered with rough hair, which is above a foot long. 

 His neck is short, his head narrow, his eyes black and 

 small, his ears round, his tongue thin, more than two 

 feet long, which he folds again into his mouth, after he 

 draws it entirely out. His legs are but one foot high : 

 the fore legs, are a little higher and more slender than 

 those behind : he has round feet : the fore feet are 

 armed with four claws, the two middle ones are the 

 longest ; and those behind have five claws, The hair 



