THE SLOTH 



177 



Skull of Sloth 



are also few in number. But, as it feeds entirely upon leaves and 

 tender shoots, it does not require so many teeth as most other 

 animals, and scarcely masticates its food at all before swallow- 

 ing it. 



One naturally wonders how the sloth manages to drink. It 

 can only walk upon the ground, as we have already seen, with 

 very great difficulty. For this 

 purpose, however, it never 

 requires to do so, for as dew 

 falls heavily almost every 

 night in the South Ameri- 

 can forests in which it makes 

 its home, it can obtain as 

 much moisture as it needs 

 from the foliage which sur- 

 rounds it. 



When a sloth is engaged 

 in feeding, or in drawing 

 leaves together in order to 



obtain the moisture which has been deposited upon them, it makes 

 use of its clumsy-looking fore-paws in a very dexterous manner. 

 It hooks them round a leaf or branch, and so draws the moisture 

 into its mouth. 



These claws vary in number, some sloths possessing three upon 

 each foot, and others only two. 



For some little time after the young of the sloth are born, 

 they are not sufficiently strong to travel along beneath the 

 branches and obtain food for themselves. For several weeks, 

 therefore, they cling firmly to the body of their mother, and are 

 carried about by her wherever she goes. 



A very singular sloth is that called the Ai. It has three great 

 claws upon each foot. On its back is a long blackish mark, which 

 looks as if it had been produced by the pressure of a heated iron. 

 The flesh of this animal is a favourite dainty with the native 

 hunters, and many an unfortunate Ai falls a victim to their poisoned 

 arrows, which they shoot through blow-pipes. 



(M868) 



