SLOTHS AND THEIR HAIR 321 



their parents. As already mentioned, in very young 

 individuals of the two-toed sloth a large proportion of the 

 hairs are devoid of grooves ; and it would therefore seem 

 that the young sloths do not develop a growth of alga till 

 about the time they are old enough to leave the maternal 

 arms and hang independently on the leafy and lichen-clad 

 boughs of their native forests. . 



21 



