362 



EXPLANATORY INDEX. 



springing up, sat on its hind legs, and grasped at me with 

 its huge fore-claws. I sprang quickly to one side, and thus 

 escaped. Thinking that it was good eating, I shot it, but 

 the Indians said that it was not wholesome food, although, 

 from the great interest they took in seeing it killed, I thought 

 it was. [Waterton says that its flesh is good eating.] 



" These large Ant-eaters are very dangerous customers, 

 and have been known to kill men. William told me that an 



GREAT ANT-BEAR. 



Indian, living near Roraima, was hunting in the forest to the 

 north of that mountain with some others, armed with his long 

 blow-pipe. In returning home, considerably in advance of 

 the rest of the party, it is supposed that he saw a young 

 Ant-eater, and, taking it up in his arms, was carrying it 

 home, when its mother gave chase, overtook, and killed him ; 

 for, when his companions came up, they found him lying 

 dead on his face in the embrace of the Ant-bear, one of its 

 large claws having entered his heart. In the struggle he 

 had managed to stick his knife behind his back into the 

 animal, which bled to death, but not before the poor fellow 

 had succumbed to its teri'ible hug. 



