168 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



slender hand, with its two claws, contrasts with the rather bulky upper part of the limbs, and the 

 flesh-coloured palms are very remarkable. 



The whole of the Sloths lead very monotonous lives ; their food is ever within their reach, and it 

 is abundant, and they do not appear to have to compete much or at all in the struggle for existence 



HOFFMANN 8 SLOTH. 



with other animals. Their enemies are Snakes and the Carnivora, but it is evident that they are much, 

 more readily preserved by their habits from the latter than from the former. Leading such an 

 uneventful existence, there is no great call upon their nervous energies or intelligence, and these are 

 at a low pitch. The brain conseqxiently is very simple in regard to convolutions, which are few in 

 number and shallow. 



