106 THE THREE-TOfiD SLOTH". 



descent which it would otherwise be obliged to make, 

 it suffers itself to fall to the ground, its tough skin, 

 and thick coarse hair, sufficiently securing it from 

 any unpleasant effect in its fall. Sometimes the 

 Sloths will suspend themselves by their claws from 

 the branches of trees, and thus hanging, a branch 

 may be cut off, and they will fall with it rather 

 than quit their hold *. One that was taken by some 

 person of the expedition under Woodes Rogers, 

 was brought on board one of the vessels, and put 

 down at the lower part of the mizen shrowds. It 

 climbed to the mast-head ; occupying two hours, 

 in what a Monkey would have performed in less 

 than half a minute. It proceeded with a very slow 

 and deliberate pace, as if all its movements had 

 been directed by machinery!'. 



These animals are always most active during the 

 night, at which time they utter their plaintive ciy, 

 ascending and descending in perfect tune, through 

 the hexachord, or six successive musical intervals. 

 When the Spaniards first arrived in America, and 

 heard this unusual noise, they fancied they were 

 near some nation, the people of which had been 

 ' instructed in our music '^, 



When kept in a house the Sloth never rests on 

 the ground, but always climbs on some post or 

 door to repose. If a pole is held out to it, v^'hen 

 on the ground, it will immediately lay hold, and, 

 if it is fixed, climb to the top, and firmly adhere 

 to it §. 



* Buff: Quad. vii. l64. 

 •}• Woodes Roijors; 9Aj. J Kirclier's iMusurgia. § BufF. vii. l64. 



