220 



Tapir Sloth. 



except, perhaps, the camel. Although much smaller than 

 a horse, he will take you on long journeys and over 

 dangerous places, and be content with a little grass or even 

 a few weeds. Donkeys are very useful to the poor people 



of Africa, Asia and Europe. 



65. The TAPIR of South 

 America is all black or dark 



brown, and looks like a big 

 fat hog ; and, like the hog, it 

 delights in wallowing in the 

 mud. It has a short probos- 

 cis or trunk. Its height is 

 between three and four feet ; 

 but the tapir of Asia is larger 

 and has a white back. 



66. Of all animals the 

 slowest and laziest is 

 said to be the SLOTH, 

 which lives in South and 

 Central America. 



67. While some animals 

 and people too are idle from 

 choice, this poor creature is 

 almost helpless ; the slightest 

 movement seems to give it 



great pain, judging from the piteous cry it sets up. It is 

 therefore to be pitied, not blamed. To take fifty steps 

 would require a whole day. The sloth is about the size 

 of a large cat. Its hair is coarse, its arms very long, and 

 legs short, and it is always found hanging under a branch 

 of a tree, even when asleep. It makes its food of leaves, 

 fruit, and bark. Some sloths have two toes or claws and 



Tapir, length, 5 feet ; Sloth, 

 length, 18 inches. 



