534 iiisTonv of 



tory : as its name implies, it lives entirely upon ants and insects ; 

 these, in the coiiiitiies where it is bred, are found in the greatest 

 abundance, and often build themselves hills five or six feet high, 

 where tliey live in community. When this animal approaches 

 an ant-hill, it creeps slowly forward on its belly, taking every 

 precaution to keep itself concealed till it comes within a propel 

 distance of the place where it intends to make its banquet ; there, 

 lying closely along at its length, it thrusts forth its round red 

 tongue, which is often two feet long, across the path of these 

 busy insects, and there lets it lie motionless for several minutes 

 together. The ants of that country, some of which are half an 

 inch long, considering it as a piece of flesh accidentally thrown 

 before them, come forth and swarm upon it in great numbers : 

 but wherever they touch they stick ; for this instrument is cov- 

 ered with a slimy fluid, which, like bird-lime, entangles every 

 creature that lights upon it. When, therefore, the ant-bear has 

 found a sufficient number for one morsel, it instantly draws in 

 the tongue, and devours them all in a moment ; after which it 

 still continues in its position, practising the same arts until its 

 hunger is entirely appeased ; it then retires to its hiding place 

 once more, where it continues in iTidolent existence till again 

 excited by the calls of hunger. 



Such is the luxurious life of a creature that seems, of all others, 

 the most helpless and deformed. It finds safety in its hiding- 

 places from its enemies, and an ample supply in some neighbour- 

 ing ant-,hill for all its appetites. As it only tries to avoid its 

 pursuers it is seldom discovered by them ; yet helpless as this 

 animal is, when driven to an extremity, though without teeth, it 

 will fight with its claws with great obstinacy. With these arms 

 alone it has often been found to oppose the dog, and even the 

 jaguar. It throws itself upon its back, fastens upon its enemy 

 with all its claws, sticks with great strength and perseverance, 

 and even after killing its invader, which is sometimes the case, 

 does not quit its hold, but remains fastened upon it with vindic- 

 tive desperation.' 



1 Besides the animal here described, there are others of the same kind; 

 tlie most remarkable of which are, the little Ant-eater, or Fom-miller, and 

 the prickly Ant-eater of New Holland. Tlie former is singular for its hav- 

 infjonly two toes on the fore feet, armed with strong claws; and a tail 

 wliich it ia able to coil round the branches of trees, ;md hold fast by. I'hfl 



