276 THE AI. 



managed with great dexterity. It is very tenacious of life, and is 

 protected from any injury which it might receive from falls by the pe- 

 culiar structure of its skull. In length it is about two feet. 



The Ai, or Three-toed Sloth, is an inhabitant of South America, 

 and is more common than the preceding animal, from which it can 

 easily be distinguished by the third toe on its feet. The color of this 

 animal is rather variable, but is generally of a brownish gray, slightly 

 variegated by differently-tinted hairs, and the head and face being 

 darker than the body and limbs. The hair has a curious hay-like 

 aspect, being coarse, flat, and harsh toward the extremity, although 

 it is very fine toward the root. Owing to the color and structure of 

 the hair, the Ai can hardly be distinguished from the bough under 

 which it hangs, and owes much of its safety to this happy resemblance; 

 for its flesh is very good, and, in consequence, the poor creature^ is 

 dreadfully persecuted by the natives, as well as by the white hunters. 

 The cry of this creature is low and plaintive, and is thought to resem- 

 ble the sound Ai. The head is short and round, the eyes deeply sunk 

 in the head, and nose large and very moist. 



The young of the Ai, as well as those of the other Sloths, cling to 

 their mother as soon as they are born, and are carried about by her 

 until they are able to transfer their weight from their parent to the 

 branches. Several other species of Sloths are known to exist, but all 

 are similar in appearance and habits. 



