MAMMALS 



199 



Fig. 363. — Sloth of South America. 



resembling moss often gives its hair a green colour. (What 

 advantage?) How many toes has it? How are its nails 

 suited to its man- 

 ner of living? Does 

 it save exertion by 

 hanging from the 

 branches of trees 

 instead of walking 

 upon them ? 



Judging from the 

 figures (363, 364, 

 365), are the mem- 

 bers of this order 

 better suited for at- 

 tack, active resistance, passive resistance, or concealment 



when contend- 

 ing with other 

 animals ? The 

 ant-eater's claws 

 (Fig. 364)011 the 

 fore feet seem 

 to be a hin- 

 drance in walk- 

 ing ; for what 

 are they useful ? 

 Why are its jaws 

 so slender? 

 What is prob- 

 ably the use of 

 the enormous 

 bushy tail ? The 



Fig. 364. — Giant Ant-eater of South America. 

 (See Fig. 354.) Find evidences that the edentates are a 

 degenerate order. Describe another ant-eater (Fig. 360). 



nine-banded armadillo (Fig. 365) lives in Mexico and Texas. 

 It is omnivorous. To escape its enemies, it burrows into 



