496 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



THE SLOTH. 

 (Brady pus Tridactylus, Linn. L'Ai\ Buff. 



OF all animals, is the most sluggish and inactive; 

 and if we were to judge from outward appearance, 

 would seem the most helpless and wretched. All 

 its motions seem to be the effect of the most painful 

 exertion, which hunger alone is capable of exciting. 



It lives chiefly in trees; and having ascended one, 

 with infinite labour and difficulty, it remains there 

 till it has entirely stripped it of all its verdure, 

 sparing neither fruit, blossom, nor leaf; after which 

 it is said to devour even the bark. Being unable to 

 descend, it throws itself on the ground, and con- 

 tinues at the bottom of the tree till hunger again 

 compels it to renew its toils in search of sub- 

 sistence. 



Its motions are accompanied with a most piteous 

 and lamentable cry, which terrifies even beasts of 

 prey, and proves its best defence. 



Though slow, awkward, and almost incapable of 

 motion, the Sloth is strong, remarkably tenacious 

 of life, and capable of enduring a long 'abstinence 

 from food. 



We are told of one that having fastened itself by 

 its feet to a pole, remained in that situation forty 



