THE ANT-EATER. 297 



Description, &c. 



and regain its legs. The strength of its jaws is 

 so great that if it fasten on any object, an iron 

 bar can scarcely force them open; and even 

 when the head is cut off, they will adhere firmly, 

 in consequence of the astonishing rigidity of the 

 muscles, which do not relax even in death. 



We have never heard that any of the species 

 ever experience a renovation of the shell, which 

 affords it a secure asylum from every enemy but 

 man. 



THE ANT-EATER. 



THERE are three different species of this 

 genus of animals in South America, which M. 

 Buffon has distinguished by the names of the ta- 

 manoi, the tamandua, and the fourmillier, or ant- 

 eater; it is, likewise, known by the appellation, 

 of the ant-bear ,' the distinguishing characteris- 

 tics of which are, a long snout, a small mouth, 

 without teeth, and a long cylindrical tongue, gene- 

 rally folded up in the mouth, with which the ani- 

 mal penetrates into the ant-nests, and draws out 

 the ants, which constitute its principal food. ,j 



The first species, to whicli the French settlers 

 in America have given the name of tamauoir, is 

 about four feet long from the snout to the inser- 

 tion of the tail; the head is fourteen or fifteen 

 inches; and the snout is so disproportionate, that 

 2 p 2 



