THE ANT-EATER. SOI 



Habits, food, &c. 



The three species of ant-eaters above men- 

 tioned, though differing materially in size and 

 proportion, are nevertheless very similar in their 

 common conformation,, and natural instinct. 

 They all feed upon ants, in their wild state, and 

 sometimes regale themselves with the honey, 

 which they find in the hollow trees in the woods: 

 it appears that they are all capable of subsisting 

 a long time without food. When taken young, 

 they are easily tamed and domesticated, when 

 they will eat small pieces of meat, and crumbs 

 of bread, from the hand, without fear or appre- 

 hension : when they drink, it is remarkable that 

 they swallow only a portion of the liquor, while 

 the remainder of it is returned through the nos- 

 trils. They commonly sleep in the day, and shift 

 their station at night. Their flesh is frequently 

 eaten by the natives; but it is very coarse, tough, 

 and unsavory. 



These animals are only to be found in the 

 rudest and most uncultivated parts of the 'New 

 World, and, indeed, as Goldsmith observes, " if 

 we examine through the various regions of the 

 earth, we shall find that all the most active, 

 sprightly, and useful quadrupeds, have been ga- 

 thered round man, and either served his plea- 

 sures, or still maintained their independence by 

 their vigilance, their cunning, or their industry. 

 It is in the remote solitudes that we are to look 

 for the -helpless, the deformed, and the monstrous 

 births of nature. They therefore retire for safety 



