224 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



skin is of a texture that perfectly resists the bite of a dog ; 

 his hinder parts are protected by thick and shaggy hair, 

 while his immense tail is large enough to cover his whole 

 body. 



The Indians have a great dread of coming in contact 

 with the ant-bear; and after disabling him in the chase, 

 never think of approaching him till he be quite dead. It is 

 perhaps on account of this caution, that naturalists have 

 nsvex yet given to the world a true and correct drawing of 

 this singular animal, or described the peculiar position of 

 his fore-feet when he walks or stands. If, in taking a 

 drawing from a dead ant-bear, you judge of the position in 

 which he stands from that of all other terrestrial animals 

 the sloth excepted, you will be in error. Examine only a 

 figure of this animal, in books of natural history, or inspect 

 a stuffed specimen in the best museums, and you will see 

 that the fore-claws are just in the same forward attitude as 

 those of a dog, or a common bear when he walks or stands-. 

 But this is a distorted and unnatural position ; and in life, 

 would be a painful and intolerable attitude for the ant-bear. 

 The length and curve of his claws cannot admit of such a 

 position. When he walks or stands, his feet have somewhat 

 the appearance of a club-hand. He goes entirely on the 

 outer side of his fore-feet, which are quite bent inwards ; 

 the claws collected into a point, and going under the foot. 

 In this position he is quite at ease ; while his long claws 

 are disposed of in a manner to render them harmless to 

 him, and are prevented from becoming dull and worn, like 

 those of the dog, which would inevitably be the case, did 

 their points come in actual contact with the ground ; for 

 his claws have not that retractile power which is given to 

 animals of the feline species by which they are enabled to 

 preserve the sharpness of their claws on the most flinty 

 path. A slight inspection of the fore-feet of the ant-bear. 



