THE SLOTH. 45 



tacked, fight with great animosity, and frequently overset 

 the boats that are in pursuit of them. 



These animals never venture ashore till the coast is 

 clear from ice. The hunters, who watch their landing, 

 destroy numbers of them for the sake of their oil arid 

 teeth. They feed on marine herbs and fish ; and appear 

 to be a match for any enemies that dare contend with 

 them, except man and white bears, 



THE SLOTH. 



This is one of the most disgusting animals in nature : 

 its hideous and awkward conformation, the slowness of its 

 motion, and the pain with which all its efforts are attended, 

 are calculated to excite aversion rather than pity. There 

 are two varieties ; one distinguished by having two claws 

 to each foot, the other three : they resemble each 

 other, however, so nearly, that one description will 

 suffice for both. 



The sloth is about the size of a badger. Its fur is coarse 

 and irregularly set ; its tail a mere stump ; and its mouth 

 extends from ear to ear. The nose is blunt, the eyes are 

 black and heavy, and the ears small ; the legs are thick, 

 and awkwardly placed ; so that it can move only one of them 

 at a time, and it requires an hour to advance three yards. 



It inhabits the eastern coasts of South America, and is 

 likewise found in Ceylon and India. It subsists wholly on 

 vegetable food, particularly the leaves and bark of trees. 

 Having by the most laborious exertions ascended a tree, 

 it remains there, till it has stripped it of every thing that 

 can be eaten : it then rolls itself into a ball ; and, to save 

 the trouble of a gradual descent, falls on the ground with 

 a horrid scream. Here it lies for an hour, apparently in 

 a state of insensibility. On recovering, it prepares to 

 climb some other tree ; at every motion uttering a plaintive 

 and melancholy cry, which seems to be ordained by Pro- 

 vidence as a principal means of its protection, beasts of 

 prey always flying from the sound of its voice. 



