NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



97 



ECHIDNA. 



milk, raw eggs, and ground meat. In taking its food it 

 thrusts out from four to eight inches of round, wormlike 

 tongue, which,, contrary to many published statements, is 

 not covered with sticky saliva. 



The Tamandua, (Taiuandua tetradacfyla), is a smaller 

 ant-eater than the preceding species, of tree-climbing habits, 

 with a proportionately shorter head, no long hair on its 

 tail, and extremely large front claws. It is found in Venez- 

 uela, the Guianas, Brazil, and in fact the greater portion 

 of the region of tropical forests on this continent south of 

 Mexico. Its tail is prehensile, or grasping, and in climbing 

 is used almost constantly. 



The Sloths are the slowest, the most helpless and defense- 

 less of the edentates. They subsist chiefly upon leaves, 

 they climb no more swiftly than a man, and they escape 

 their enemies through the resemblance of their pelage to 

 the rough bark of the tree-trunks among which they live. 

 They have a few teeth, but none for defense, and their claws 

 are of use only in climbing, except that they can pinch with 

 them. 



Two species of Sloth are occasionally seen in the Zoolog- 

 ical Park, but usually in the Primate House, where thi? 

 high temperature is better suited to their needs. 



