214 



EDENTATES. 



Distribution and The tamandua (which, by the way, is the Portuguese term for 

 Habits. the creature, the native name being eaguari) ranges through the 

 tropical forests of South and Central America. It is mainly an arboreal animal : 

 its climbing powers being largely aided by the prehensile tail. Generally nocturnal, 

 it may be sometimes seen abroad during the day. Its movements are more rapid 

 than those of the great ant-eater; and when asleep it lies on its belly, with the 

 head bent under the chest and covered with the fore-feet, while the tail is curled 

 along the side. Its food apparently consists mainly of ants, and termites — probably 

 belonging to arboreal species; but it has been suggested that honey may likewise 

 form a portion of its diet. Like the great ant-eater, it produces only a single 

 young one at a birth. It is a much commoner animal than the tamanoa, and is 

 said to be generally found on the borders of the forests. Frequently it ascends 



two-toed ant-eatek (J nat. size). 



to the top of the tallest trees. When pursued, it endeavours to escape by flight ; 

 but if hard pressed it turns on men or dogs in the same manner as its larger 

 cousin, sitting up on its hind-quarters, and trying to hug its foes in its anna 



Two-Toea The third and last representative of the family (Cyclotunis 



Ant-Eater. didactylus) is no larger than a rat. Its skull is only slightly 

 elongated. The length of the head and body is only 6 inches, and that of the 

 highly prehensile tail a little over 7 inches. The fore-feet have four toes, of which 

 those corresponding to the index and third fingers of man alone have claws : the 

 claw of the third toe being very much larger than that of the second. In the 

 hind-feet there are four nearly equal-sized toes, which are placed close together so 

 as to form a hook-like organ somewhat after the fashion of the foot of a sloth. 

 The fur is soft, thick, and silky ; its colour being generally foxy red above and 

 grey beneath, with the individual hairs greyish brown or black at the base, and 

 yellowish brown at the tips. The skull differs from that of the other ant-eaters 



