288 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



whilst most of them were restricted to South America, one large 

 species was an inhabitant of North America, and a near relative 

 belonging to another genus was, it is believed, exclusively North 

 American. 



The living Sloths are divided into two genera, popularly known 

 as Three-Toed and Two-Toed, and to the former Hoffmann's Sloth 

 belongs. The Three-Toed Sloth, or Ai, as it is called, on account 

 of the curious cry it emits, is a resident of Brazil, and although 

 possessing a shaggy coat is not a very large beast, attaining a 

 length of not more than a couple of feet. The specimen shown in 

 Fig. 226 is portrayed in a very characteristic attitude, as the animal 

 walks upside down in this way, clinging to branches by means of 

 the strong toes, and when progressing in its primeval forest home 

 it is able to turn its head completely round by means of nine 

 vertebrae instead of the usual seven bones in the neck. The value of 

 this will be apparent, as by being able to twist the head right round 

 without having to move the partly anchored body the Sloth can see 

 where it is going, and be on the look-out for enemies such as snakes 

 and man, the latter being its remorseless enemy. 



The coarse fur is brownish-grey in colour, but the male has a 

 black patch of hair between the shoulders, the hairs having a fringe 

 of yellow and giving a very curious effect. This is, like its con- 

 geners, a vegetarian in the matter of diet, and the succulent fruits, 

 leaves, etc., upon which it feeds are sufficient to satisfy its thirst, for 

 it does not, so far as is known, need to drink. 



The Two-Toed Sloths are characterized by the possession of two 

 toes on the fore-foot, but on the hind-foot the three toes are present. 

 There are at least two well-defined species of these two-toed animals ; 

 they are larger than their three-toed relatives, but, with this excep- 

 tion, and the loss of one toe on the fore-foot, there are no other 

 features of great divergence to which attention need be directed. 



BHUTAN TAKIN. This brings us to the Bhutan Takin (Fig. 227), 

 and it is interesting to note that this is the first specimen of this 

 animal ever imported alive to Europe. It is still more pleasant to 

 record that this specimen has already become a general favourite 

 at the London Zoo, and is thriving splendidly. The beast, by per- 

 suasive coaxing, will allow visitors to stroke it, and dearly relishes a 

 scratch of the head. Care should, of course, be exercised in thrust- 

 ing one's hand through the bars of its commodious apartment, but 

 otherwise little need be feared. 



