THE SLOTH. 417 



then biing's up both its legs — one after the other — to the same 

 branch, so tliat all four are in a line. 



It is almost tailless. Had it a tail it would be at a loss to 

 know what to do with it in tliis position. Were it to draw 

 it up between its legs, it would interfere with them ; and 

 were it to let it hang down, it would become the sport of 

 the winds. 



Waterton observes that he has never seen a tree entirelv 

 stripped of its leaves ; indeed, he believes that l:)y the time 

 the animal had finished the last of the old leaves, there would 

 be a new crop on the part of the tree it had stripped first, ready 

 for him to begin again, so rapid is the process of vegetation 

 in that region. In calm weather it remains tranquil, probably 

 not likinor to clino- to the brittle extremities of the branches, 

 lest they should break with it in passing from one tree to 

 another ; but as soon as the wind rises, the branches of the 

 neighbouring trees become interlocked, and then the animal 

 seizes hold of them, and pursues his journey in safety, travel- 

 ling at a good round pace — showing that he does not deserve 

 the name of sloth. 



The head of the sloth is short, the face small and round, 

 the hair coarse and shaggy. There are several species, ditTer- 

 ing considerably in colour, but resembling in general dry, 

 withered grass, or moss. The species vary in size ffom two 

 feet to the size of a rabbit. Its face resembles the human 

 countenance as much as that of the monkey, but with a very 

 .sad and melancholy expression. It brings forth its young and 

 suckles them like ordinary quadrupeds. The i:iiant sloth, 

 from the moment of its birth, adheres to the bod}^ of its 

 parent, until it acquires sufficient size and strength to shift 

 for itself Its cry is low and plaintive, resembling the sound 



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