104 THE THREE-TOED SLOTH, 



longer than the hinder ones ; and the body is co- 

 vered with hair, and not with scales, as in the Ar- 

 madiiloj and some otlicr animals of this order. 



THE THREE-TOED SLOTH *. 



Of the Three-toed Sloth, which is a native of the 

 hotter parts of South America, we have a very curi- 

 ous, though often-quoted account, written by Kir- 

 cher, principally from the authority of a Provincial 

 of the Jesuits, in South America, who had several 

 of these animals in his possession, and tried many 

 experiments with them relative to their nature and 

 properties. Its figure is, (he sa^^s) extraordinary: 

 it is about the size of a Cat, has a very ugly coun- 

 tenance, and has its claws extended like fingers. It 

 sweeps the ground with its belly, and moves so slowly 

 that it would scarcely go the length of a bow-shot 

 in fifteen days, though con3tan,tly in motion t ; hence 

 it obtained the name of Sloth. It lives generally 

 on the tops of trees, and employs two days in 

 crawling up, and as many in getting down again. 

 Nature has doubly guarded it against its enemies, 

 first, by giving it such strength in its feet, that 

 whatever it seizes, is held so fast, that it will not 

 suffer itself to be freed, but must die of hunger. 



* Synonyms. — Bradypus Tridactylus. — Lijiii. — Sloth. Ed-a-anls. — 

 I'liyart. Nicuhof. — ^Ilaut. Nicrciiib. — Ai, Buff'on. Thice-toed Sloth. 

 Pciiii. S/inip's Gen. 'Zuol. pi. 4.5. — Bctc. Suacl. 457- 



t This seems to be an erroneous assertion, for althoui;h in their 

 progi essi\ e powers they are extremely inactive, yet all others writers 

 that 1 have con-uited a^^rce in their being able to travel at least fi% 

 »r sixty j>aces in u day. 



