CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ANT-BEAR 499 



On seizing an animal with these powerful weapons, he hugs it 

 close to his body, and keeps it there till it dies through pressure 

 or hunger. Nor does the ant-bear, in the meantime, suffer 

 much from want of aliment, as it is a well-known fact that he 

 can remain longer without food than perhaps any other quadru- 

 ped, so that there is very little chance indeed of a weaker animal's 

 escaping from his clutches. 



Peaceable and harmless, the ant-bear when unprovoked never 

 thinks of attacking any other creature ; and as his interests and 

 pursuits do not interfere with those of the more formidable 

 denizens of the wilderness, he would, without doubt, attain a good 

 old age, and be allowed to die in peace, if, unfortunately for him, 

 his delicate flesh did not provoke the attacks of the large 

 carnivora and man. To be sure, the Indian fears his claws, and 

 never ventures to approach the wounded ant-bear until he has 

 breathed his last ; nor can he be hunted with dogs, as his skin is 

 of a texture that perfectly resists a bite, and his hinder parts .are 

 effectually protected by thick and shaggy hair ; yet, armed with 

 the dreadful wourali poison, the Indian knows how to paralyse 

 in a few minutes his muscular powers, and to stretch him dead 

 upon the earth. 



A perfect forest vagabond, the ant-bear has no den to retire 

 to, nor any fixed abode ; his immense tail is large enough to 

 cover his whole body, and serves him as a tent during the night, 

 or as a waterproof mantle against the rains of the wet season, so 

 that he might boast, like Diogenes, of carrying all he required 

 about him. 



The peculiar position of his paws, when he walks or stands, is 

 worthy of notice. He goes entirely on the outer side of his 

 fore-feet, which are quite bent inwards, the claws collected into 

 a point and going under the foot. In this position he is quite 

 at ease, while his long claws are disposed of in a manner to 

 render them harmless to him, and are prevented from becoming 

 dull and worn, which would inevitably be the case did their 

 points come in actual contact with the ground, for they have 

 not that retractile power which is given to animals of the 

 feline race, enabling them to preserve the sharpness of their 

 claws on the most flinty path. In consequence of its resting 

 perpetually on the ground, the whole outer side of the foot is 



