THE SLOTH, AND THE FERRET 



Huntm" the Girafte. 



Monkey, Catching Birds. 



The Sloth inhabits the remote and gloomy forests of the New World, from Brazil to Mexico. It is 

 about the size of the fox ; the fore limbs are double the length of the hinder, wanting soles, but furnished 

 with three toes, which terminate in strong, hook-like nails, crooked downward and backward ; these render 

 moving on the ground as difficult for him as it would be for a man to advance while supported on the tips 

 of his nails. Its hair is thick and coarse at the extremity, and gradually tapers at the root, where it 

 becomes fine as the finest spider's web, and is so much of the hue of the moss which grows on the branches, 

 that it is difficult to detect it when at rest. In the deep woods where it resides, the branches of the trees 

 touch each other in great profusion, so that it easily passes from tree to tree, and that with a rapidity 

 which is far from justifying its cognomen of Sloth. It is a timid, harmless creature, and its flesh is 

 esteemed a great delicacy by the Indians. Its food consists of leaves, buds, and fruit. It is a ruminating 

 animal aud has four stomachs. 



The Ferret was originally imported from Africa to Spain. It has white fur and red eyes. It is easily 

 tan^d, and when muzzled, is made use of to drive the rabbits from their burrows. 



75) 



Sloths 



