THE LABIATED BEAR. 65 



white claws, which, one may fairly suppose, are of great use in 

 enabling it to dislodge the ants, which form part of its food, and 

 to get at the stores of bees j which, also, contribute to form the 

 diet of this animal in its wild state. Dr. Francis Hamilton says 

 that, besides insects, it subsists on fruits. 



When young it is active, and runs with so much agility that 

 it cannot easily be overtaken, though pursued by a horseman 

 at full speed. 



It appears to be more docile and more intelligent than the 

 other species ; and, according to M. Duvaucel, it is educated 

 and exhibited by the Indian Jugglers for the amusement of the 

 people. 



In 1792, a specimen of this animal, from Patna in Bengal, 

 was exhibited in London as the lion-monster; but Pennant and 

 Shaw, who examined it, gave it the name of ursine sloth a name 

 equally objectionable, for its dentition and anatomy, as de- 

 scribed by Bewick, Cuvier, and Tiedmann, sufficiently prove its 

 relationship to the bear tribe. Yet it is still exhibited as the 

 sloth in the travelling menageries j though the true species of sloth 

 (Bradypus didactylus and B. tridactylus) are peculiar to South 

 America, and do no not appear to have been, hitherto, brought 

 alive to this country. 



