THE ANT-BEAR. 483 



his tiny prey might remain entangled ; but the ant-bear has 

 been no less wonderfully armed for the capture of the minute 

 animals on which he feeds, and if, on considering the use for 

 which it was ordained, we become reconciled to the seeming 

 disproportion of the whale's jaws, the small and elongated, 

 snout-like head of the ant-bear will also appear less uncouthly 

 formed when we reflect that it is in exact accordance with the 

 wants of the animal. For here no deep cavity was required for 

 the reception of two rows of powerful teeth, as in most other 

 quadrupeds, but a convenient furrow for a long and extensile 

 tongue — the use of which will immediately become apparent 

 on following the animal into the Brazilian campos, where, as 

 we have seen in a former chapter, the wonderful cities of the 

 white ant are dispersed over the plains in such incalculable 

 numbers. Approaching one of these structures, the ant-bear 

 strikes a hole through its wall of clay, with his powerful crooked 

 claws, and as the ants issue forth by thousands to resent the 

 insult, stretches out his tongue for their reception. Their 

 furious legions, eager for revenge, immediately rush upon it, 

 and vainly endeavouring to pierce, its thick skin with their 

 mandibles, remain sticking to the glutinous liquid with which 

 it is lubricated from two very large glands situated below its 

 root. When sufficiently charged with prey, the ant-bear sud- 

 denly withdraws his tongue and swallows all the insects. 



Without swiftness to enable him to escape from his enemies, 

 for man is superior to^ him in speed ; without teeth, the posses- 

 sion of which would assist him in self-defence ; without the 

 power of burrowing in the ground, by which he might conceal 

 himself from his pursuers ; without a cave to retire to, the ant- 

 bear still ranges through the wilderness in perfect safety, and 

 fears neither the boa nor the jaguar, for he has full reliance on 

 his powerful fore-legs and their tremendous claws. 



Richard Schomburgh had an opportunity of witnessing a 

 young ant-bear make use of these formidable weapons. On the 

 enemy's approach it assumed the defensive, but in such a 

 manner ' as to make the boldest aggressor pause, for, resting on 

 its left fore-foot, it struck out so desperately with its right paw 

 as would undoubtedly have torn off the flesh of any one that 

 came in contact with its claws. Attacked from behind, it 



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