THE GREAT ANT-EATER. 



(MYHMKCOl'JlAdyl JUDATA.) 



It is often remarked that there m Homething in a namt^ 

 but if by the name of the above-nidiitioncid animal vvi! 

 were to take it for granted that the food of the animal con- 

 sisted of ants, and fetid him accordingly, I ihir no living 

 .specimen would over macli Europe. Of the fivo or six 

 specimens that have, J'roni tiirio to time, coriii! within my 

 observations, as well aw th(! various means and kiiidH of 

 food that have boon employed to Hustain thorn, I am Hatis- 

 fied that the name, if intended to iiidioato tho food of this 

 creature, is only a dolusion. 



Tho first great ant-eater that I rciiiiembor to havo soon 

 alive came to England in 1853, This animal was iod jiriri- 

 cipally upon raw eggs, milk, and the intestines of rabbits ; 

 upon this food the aniinal lived for several irionths, but 

 during tho whole of this Lime appeared unhealthy. 



In ISlii; a fine large adult ai]t-(!ator arrived in South- 

 ampton and was allowed the free range of a larg(! kitcliori 

 garden. Tho boast was amazingly strong, active, and 

 somewhat dangerous, as he would Kornotimos suddenly 

 attack and strike with his front claws any on<! who 

 ventured to approach hinj. Being alone, J entenjd tho 

 garden to look at him, and, not expecting any niiHchiol' I 

 was much astonished by tho suddoriness of lii.s attack, and 

 had to boat a retreat in double (juiok tinio to save my 

 clothes and, probably, my skin irom being torn off. Ho 

 fed freely upon thin worm-like strips of flesii (raw ])iiid'), 



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