THE SLOTH. 281 



Surprising instance of abstinence. 



that when it looks at any one who might be 

 tempted to injure it, it is almost impossible not to 

 be moved with compassion ; it also sheds tears, 

 and upon the whole persuades one that a crea- 

 ture so abject and defenceless ought not to be 

 tormented. 



To try an experiment with this animal, the pro- 

 vincial had one of them brought to the Jesuit's 

 College at Carthagena. He put a long pole un- 

 der its feet, which it seized very firmly, and would 

 not let go again. The animal, therefore, thus 

 voluntarily suspended, was placed between two 

 beams, where it remained without food for forty 

 days, its eyes being always fixed on those who 

 looked at it, who were so affected that they could 

 not forbear pitying its dejected state. At length, 

 being taken down, a dog w 7 as let loose on it : but 

 this, after a while, the sloth seized in its claws, 

 and held till both died of hunger. 



In ascending a tree, the sloth carelessly 

 stretches one of its paws, and fixes its long claw 

 as high as it can reach, it then heavily raises 

 the body, and gradually fixes the other paw: and 

 in this manner continues to climb, each motion 

 being remarkably slow and languid. When it 

 has got possession of a tree, it will not descend 

 while a leaf or bud is remaining; and it is as- 

 serted, that in order to obviate the necessity of 

 a slow and laborious descent, it suffers itself to 

 fall to the ground; the toughness of its skin, and 



NO. VI. 2 N 



