034 



THE LITTLE ANT-EATER. 



traversing the tree-tops. Like some of the preceding species this little creature produces but 

 one at a birth ; yet it has four niammee. Excellent figures of this animal are seen here. 



The Tamandua possesses an elongated head, like that of the tamanoir, but the skull is 

 not so extraordinarily long as in that animal, and the hair is short over the entire body. Indeed, 

 the Tamandua looks like a small specimen of the tamanoir, which has been clipped from its 

 neck to the tip of its tail. The color of this species is much lighter than that of the tamanoir, 

 and a black stripe passes over each shoulder. In size it is comparatively small, measuring, 

 when full grown, barely three feet and a half in total length. 



It is a more active animal than the preceding species, and is a good climber of trees, which 

 it ascends in search of the insects on which it feeds. The tail is long and tapering, and 

 possesses something of the prehensile quality, though not so strongly as that of the little ant- 

 eater, which will shortly be described. It is naked at the tip, but at the base is thickly 





v;rfe 



TAMANDUA. - Myrmecophaga tetradactyla. 



covered with hair of the same short, coarse kind that is spread over the body, 

 its fur is a pale cinnamon. 



When young, 



The Little Ant-eater is a truly curious animal, possessing many of the habits of the 

 two preceding animals, together with several customs of its own. The head of this creature is 

 comparatively short ; its body is covered with fine silken fur, and its entire length does not 

 exceed twenty or twenty-one inches. The tail is well furred, excepting three inches of the 

 under surface at the extremity, which is employed as the prehensile portion of that member, 

 and is capable of sustaining the weight of the body as it swings from a branch. On looking at 

 the skeleton, a most curious structure presents itself. On a side view, the cavity of the chest 

 is completely hidden by the ribs, which are greatly flattened, and overlap each other so that 

 on a hasty glance the ribs appear to be formed of one solid piece of bone. There are only two 

 claws on the fore-feet and four on the hinder limbs. 



The Little Ant-eater is a native of tropical America, and is always to be found on trees, 

 where it generally takes up its residence, and where it finds its sustenance. It possesses many 

 squirrel-like customs, using its fore-claws with great dexterity, and hooking the smaller 

 insects out of the bark crevices in which they have taken unavailing refuge. While thus 

 employed it sits upon its hind limbs, supporting itself with its prehensile tail. The claws are 

 compressed, curved, and very sharp, and the little animal can use these instruments with 

 some force as offensive weapons, and can strike smart blows with them. It is a bold little 



