ANIMALS. Ml 



Like the tortoise, which they resemhle in the slowness of tlieir 

 motion, they continue to live some time after their nobler parts 

 are wour.ded, or even taken away. They bear the marks of all 

 those homely-formed animals, that, like rude machines, are not 

 easily discomposed. 



Its note,' according to Kircher, is an ascending and descending 

 hexachord, which it utters only by night ; its look is so piteous, 

 as to move compassion ; it is also accompanied with tears, that 

 dissuade everybody from injuring so wretched a being. Its ab- 

 stinence from food is remarkably powerful ; one that had fastened 

 itself by its feet to a pole, and was so suspended across two 

 beams, remained forty days, without meat, drink, or sleep ; the 

 strength of its feet is so great, that whatsoever it seizes on can- 

 not possibly be freed from its claws. A dog was let loose at 

 the above-mentioned animal, taken from the pole; after some 

 time the sloth laid hold of the dog with its feet, and held him 

 four days, till he perished with hunger.'' 



count. The sloth is the only quadruped known, which spends its whole life 

 from the branch of a tree, suspended by his feet. I have pidd iinconimon 

 attention to him in his native haunts. The monkey and squirrel will seize 

 a branch with their fore feet, and pull themselves up, and rest or rim upon 

 It ; but the sloth, after seizing it, still remains suspended, and suspended 

 moves along under the branch till he can lay hold of another. Whenever I 

 have seen him in his native woods, whether at rest, or asleep, or on his tra- 

 vels, I have always observed that he was suspended from the branch of a 

 tree. When his form and anatomy nre attentively considered, it will ap- 

 pear evident that the sloth cannot be at ease in atiy situation, where his 

 body is higher, or above liis feet. We will now take our leave of him." 



1 Pennant's Synopsis. 



2 In addition to the two here mentioned, another, and by far the largest 

 of its Idnd, has lately been introduced to the notice of naturalists from India. 

 This animal approaches in size and shape to that of the common bear, being 

 clothed with a very long black shaggy hair. Its snout is a little elongated, 

 and appears as if cut otiat the end. The feet ;u-e all armed with five crook, 

 ed pointed claws ; and the tail is short, and hardly vioible. In its motions, 

 it was not, as in the others, slow and languid ; but it appeared moderately 

 lively, and gave a kind of short abrupt roar when disturbed or irritated. 

 It fed principally upon vegetables and milk, and was much delighted with 

 honey and sweet things. It was said to biuiow, and to have been dug out 

 of its subterraneous retreat ^^■hlMl first discovered. 



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