THE 



SI,OTII 



:ti:t 



the forehead, temples, chin, throat, and breast,, are OOVered with reddish, or nisl.-,.,,!,,, m -d hair, slightly 

 frilled ; nu the en. unof the. head it is long and yellow, and on the rest of the bo.U p;,|e ownge. Cm 

 Hi.' most distinguishing mark of the speoiea is a large black ...liar, uhien completely Mirronndi the ,,..ck. 



a>id iron i which its specific name collar* is derived. Beneath this outer e is an inner ., ,,r 



very tine fur, which is of a dark-brown colour on the collar, but gradually dinnnMie, in intensity 

 towards the croup, where it is entirely white. 



Both these species, when in motion in the forests, emit a feeble, plaintive cry, resembling the 

 word Ai, and in this originates the name they bear among the Europeans settled in Am.-i . 



The Unau,* or Two-toed Sloth, closely resembles the Ai in its manners, and exceeds it in si/... 



Mr. Bm-chell observed that some sloths he 'had captured assumed a pcrfcctlv safe aid 

 position on the fork of a tree, their arms embracing the trunk, their backs resting on the :m-l. 

 branch, and their heads reclining on their bosoms. The animal is thus rolled up nearlv in the I'orm 

 of a hull ; the entire vertebral column, including the neck, assuming a nearly circu'.ir curve ; and not 

 only is the weight of the whole body maintained in an attitude of ease and safety, but the head is 



THE COLLARED SLOTH. 



.supported between the arms and chest, and the face lies buried in the long wool which COMTS tln.sc 

 parts, and is thus protected during sleep from the myriads of insects which would otherwise attack it. 

 "The Indians," says Mr. Waterton, "have a saying, that when the wind blows, the sloths begin 

 to travel. In fact, during calm weather, they remain tranquil, probably not liking to ding to the 

 brittle extremities of the branches, lest they should break while the animals are passing from one in-.- 

 to another; but, as soon as the wind rises, the branches of the neighbouring trees become interwoven, 

 and then the sloth sei/es hold of them, and pursues his journey in safety. Me travels at a good round 

 pace, and were you to see him, as I have clone, passing from tree to tree, you would never think of 

 calling him a sloth." 



THE INSECT AND FLESH-EATERS. 



A FAMILY grouj) of these animals includes the true Armadillos, the CnlamyphoTUS, and al-o the Aard- 

 vark, or African Ant-eater, which, though not covered with armour, approaches in it-- structure i 

 to tin: armadillo than to the American ant-eaters, with which animals it was formerly associated, and 

 which it, resembles very closely in manners and in its diet. 



Cholu'pus diiloclylus. 



