746 EDENTATA. 



GENUS CYCLOTHURUS. 



The two species of Two-toed Ant-eaters are found in South America 

 from Honduras and Costa Rica to Brazil. 



The Little Ant-eater, Cyclothurus didactylus (Plate LXII), 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. 

 Its silky coat is usually fox-red, but darker specimens have been seen. 



The Little Ant-eater is a native of tropical America, and is always 

 to be found on trees. 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 refuge. While thus em- 

 ployed it sits upon its hind limbs, supporting itself with its prehensile 

 tail. The claws are compressed, curved, and very sharp, and the 

 animal can strike smart blows with them. It is a bold little creature, 

 attacking the nests of wasps, putting its little paw into the combs, and 

 dragging the grubs from their cells. 



Like its larger relations, it is nocturnal in its habits, and sleeps during 

 the day with its tail safely twisted round the branch on which it sits. 



