THE SLOTH. 417 



then brings up both its' legs one after the other to the same 

 branch,, so that all four are in a line. 



It is almost tailless. Had it a tail it would be at a loss to 

 know what to do with it in this position. Were it to draw 

 it up between its legs, it would interfere with them ; and 

 were it to let it hang down, it would become the sport of 

 the winds. 



Waterton observes that he has never seen a tree entirely 

 stripped of its leaves ; indeed, he believes that by the time 

 the animal had finished the last of the old leaves, there would 

 ])e a new crop on the part of the tree it had stripped first, ready 

 for him to begin again, so rapid is the, process of vegetation 

 in that region. In calm weather it remains tranquil, probably 

 not liking to cling to the brittle extremities of the branches, 

 lest they should break with it in passing from one tree to 

 another ; but as soon as the wind rises, the branches of the 

 neighbouring trees become interlocked, and then the animal 

 seizes hold of them, and pursues his journey in safety, travel- 

 ling at a good round pace showing that he does not deserve 

 the name of sloth. 



The head of the sloth is short, the face small and round, 

 the hair coarse and shaggy. There are several species, differ- 

 ing considerably in colour, but resembling in general dry, 

 withered grass, or moss. The species vary in size from two 

 feet to the size of a rabbit. Its face resembles the human 

 countenance as much as that of the monkey, but with a very 

 sad and melancholy expression. It brings forth its young and 

 suckles them like ordinary quadrupeds. The infant sloth, 

 from the moment of its birth, adheres to the body of its 

 parent, until it acquires sufficient size and strength to shift 

 for itself. Its cry is low and plaintive, resembling the sound 



(379) 27 



