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Both fpecies agree in their general habits and manner of life, living on fruit 

 and leaves. They are remarkable for the total want of front teeth, and have 

 only canine teeth and grinders. When thefe animals are attacked, they have 

 no other mode of defence than what refults from the great mufcular ftrength 

 of their fore legs, which though it does not enable them to refill by 

 thofe ftrong and violent efforts which moft quadrupeds exert when fuddenly 

 furprifed, yet gives them a power of faftening fo forcibly on the animal 

 which attacks them, as to prevent all poffibility of its efcape ; for it is affirmed 

 that nothing can make this creature quit its hold when once it has faftened 

 itfelf; and that if a dog Ihould venture to attack it, it would in all pro- 

 bability lofe its own life by being held by the Sloth till familhed. To this 

 may be added its dilmal cry, which is faid to repell other animals by its 

 dilgufting tone. 



The colour of this fpecies is a duflcy brown j fomewhat deeper on the 

 limbs than on the body; and acrofs the forehead, over each eye, runs a 

 very broad and fomewhat irregular band of black. The eyes are fmall and 

 dull : the tail fcarce vifible : the claws extremely long and large, but fcarce 

 fo ftrong as in the common Sloth. The fore feet are each furnillied with 

 two claws ; the hinder ones with three ; whereas in the common Sloth ail 

 the feet have three. To this may be added that the hair of this fpecies is 

 not fo harlh and coarfe as that of the three-toed Sloth. 



PARA- 



