WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 93 



oftener than it is seen ; while the common Brown Monkey, 

 tlie Bisa, and Sacawinki, rove from tree to tree, and amuse 

 the stranger as he journeys on. 



A species of the Polecat, and another of the Fox, are 

 destructive to the Indian's poultry; while tlie Opossum, 

 the Guana, and Salempenta, afford him a delicious morsel. 



The small Ant-bear, and the large one, remarkable for his 

 long, bpoad, bushy tail, are sometimes seen on the tops of 

 the wood-ants' nests ; the Armadillas bore in the sand-hills, 

 like rabbits in a warren ; and the Porcupine is now and 

 then discovered in the trees over your head. 



This, too, is the native country of the Sloth. His looks, 

 his gestures, and his cries, all conspire to entreat you to 

 take pity on him. These are the only weapons of defence 

 which nature hath given him. While other animals as- 

 semble in herds, or in pairs range through these boundless 

 wilds, the sloth is soKtary, and almost stationary ; he can- 

 not escape from you. It is said, his piteous moans make 

 the tiger relent, and turn out of the way. Do not then 

 level your gun at him, or pierce him with a poisoned arrow ; 

 — he has never hurt one living creature. A few leaves, 

 and those of the commonest and coarsest kind, are all he 

 asks for his support. On comparing him with other ani- 

 mals, you would say that you could perceive deficiency, 

 deformity, and superabundance in his composition. He 

 has no cutting teeth, and though four stomachs, he still 

 wants the long intestines of ruminating animals. He ha^ 

 only one inferior aperture, as in birds. He has no soles to 

 his feet, nor has he the power of moving his toes separately. 

 His hair is flat, and puts you in mind of grass withered by 

 the wintry blast. His legs are too short ; they appear de- 

 formed by the manner in which they are joined to the body ; 

 and when he is on the ground, they seem as if only calcu- 

 lated to be of use in climbing trees. He has forty-six ribs, 



