THE MIDDLE ANT-EATER AND THE LITTLE ANT-EATER. 271 



The claws of the fore-feet are extremely long and curved, and are 

 totally unfitted for locomotion. AVhen the animal is not employing 

 these instruments in destroying, it folds the long claws upon a thick 

 rough pad which is placed in the palm, and seems to render the exer- 

 tion of walking less difficult. As, however, the Ant Bear is forced to 

 walk upon the outer edge of its fore-feet, its progress is a peculiarly 

 awkward one, and cannot be kept up for any long time. The creature 

 seems to possess considerable grasping power in the toes of the fore- 

 limbs, being able to pick up a small object Jn its paws. Though not a 

 fighter, it can defend itself right well by means of these powerful in- 

 struments, and can not only strike with considerable violence, but when 

 attacked by a dog or similar enemy, it clasps him in such a terrific 

 grip that the half-suffocated animal is only too glad to be able to es- 

 cape. 



The Ant Bear is said to make no burrow, but to content itself with 

 the shade of its own plumy tail whenever it retires to rest. While 

 sleeping the creature looks very like a rough bundle of hay thrown 

 loosely on the ground, for the hair of the mane and tail is so long and 

 so harsh that it can hardly be recognized at the first glance for the ver- 

 itable coat of a living animal. The eye of this creature has a peculiar 

 and indescribably cunning expression. The Tamanoir is a native of 

 Guinea, Brazil, and Paraguay. 



The Middle Ant-eater, or Tamandue, is not so large as the pre- 

 ceding animal, from which it is readily distinguished by the tail, which 

 is long and tapering, and almost devoid of hair except at the base. 

 The tail, indeed, is used as an organ of prehension, to assist it in climb- 

 ing trees — a feat which it sometimes performs, although not so often as 

 the Little Ant-eater. 



This animal produces a strong scent of musk, which is generally 

 excited when it is enraged. The scent is not pleasant, like that of the 

 musk deer, but very disagreeable, and can be perceived at a consider- 

 able distance. 



The Little Ant-eatee is a truly curious animal. The head of 

 this creature is comparatively short ; its body is covered with fine silken 

 fur, and its entire length does not exceed twenty or twenty-one inches. 

 The tail is well furred, excepting three inches of the under surface at 

 the extremity, which is employed as the prehensile portion of that 

 member, and is capable of sustaining the weight of the body as it 

 swings from a branch. On looking at the skeleton, a most curious 

 structure presents itself. On a side view, the cavity of the chest is 

 completely hidden by the ribs, which are greatly flattened, and overlap 

 each other so that on a hasty glance the ribs appear to be formed of one 

 solid piece of bone. There are only two claws on the fore-feet, and four 

 on the hinder limbs. 



