212 EDENTATES. 



instead of near its middle. Another peculiarity of the skull is the absence of any 

 postorbital process denning the hinder border of the socket of the eye, which is 

 consequently continuous with the temporal fossa, or large open space at the side of 

 the hinder portion of the skull. Then, again, the lower jaw is very long and 

 slender, with an extremely short union in front between its two lateral branches, 

 and without the process which usually ascends behind the socket of the eye for the 

 attachment of the muscles of mastication. Like the sloths, the females of the great 

 ant-eater have but a single pair of teats on the breast. 

 Distribution and Although distributed over the whole of the tropical portions of 



Habits. South and Central America, the great ant-eater is nowhere common ; 

 and from its nocturnal habits but seldom seen. It frequents either the low, wet 

 lands bordering the rivers, or swampy forests; and is strictly terrestrial in its 

 habits. Its strong claws might lead to the supposition that the creature was a 

 burrower, but this is not the case. It has, however, usually a regular lair, or at 

 least an habitual place of resort, generally situated among tall grass, where it 

 spends the day in slumber, lying on one side, with its head buried in the long fur 

 of the chest, the legs folded together, and the huge tail curled round the exposed 

 side of the body. Except in the case of females with young, the ant-eater is, as a 

 rule, a solitary creature. Its usual pace is a kind of trot, but when pursued it 

 breaks into an awkward, shuffling, slow gallop. The food of the great ant-eater 

 consists exclusively of termites and ants, together with their larvae. In order to 

 obtain these insects, the ant-eater tears open their nests or hillocks with the power- 

 ful claws of its fore-feet. As soon as the light of day is let into their domicile, the 

 ants or termites rush to the surface in order to investigate the cause of the dis- 

 turbance, and are forthwith swept up by hundreds adhering to the viscid tongue 

 of the ant-eater, which is protruded and withdrawn with lightning-like rapidity. 



The breeding-habits of the animal are still very imperfectly known. A 

 single young is, however, produced by the female in spring, which is carried about 

 on the back of its parent for a considerable time. The period of suckling lasts for 

 several months ; and even when the young ant-eater has taken to feeding on 

 insects, it does not leave its parent until she is again pregnant. 



Usually the ant-eater is a harmless, inoffensive creature, which may be driven 

 in almost any direction so long as it is not pressed too hard. If, however, driven 

 to close quarters, it turns furiously on its assailants, whom it attacks by hugging 

 with its immensely muscular arms. It has been asserted, on the authority of the 

 natives, that the ant-eater will even face and attack the jaguar ; and although the 

 truth of this statement was denied by the traveller Azara, a later explorer believes 

 that it may be founded on fact. Like the sloths, ant-eaters are exceedingly difficult 

 to kill, their skin being so tough that an ordinary small hunting-knife will make 

 no impression on it, while their skulls may be battered with a heavy stone without 

 producing any other effect than temporarily stunning the creatures. 



These ant-eaters thrive fairly well in captivity in Europe ; but spend most of 

 their time in sleep, with the head, limbs, and tail folded up in the manner already 

 mentioned. On awakening, the animal generally unfolds itself with considerable 

 deliberation, usually sitting up at first on its hind-quarters, with its legs stretched 

 out rigidly in front, and its bird-like head swaying slowly from side to side. " In 



