EDENTATES 



1 33 



eastern part of South America. It is covered with a coat of bristles of 

 a gray-black colour, raised along the back into a coarse mane-like crest, 

 which is continued into the bushy tail. The latter forms about half of 

 the total length, which measures about 61 feet. This tail is spread over 

 the body when the animal sleeps. Its food consists chiefly of ants and 

 termites (' white ants '), whose nests it opens by means of the powerful 

 claws on its fore-feet. To protect them from wear, these important 



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digging and tearing instruments are 

 turned inwards when the animal 

 walks, so that only the outer edges 

 of the feet rest on the ground. 

 The ant-eater thrusts its worm- 

 like, extensile, adhesive tongue into 

 the struggling masses of ants or 

 termites, and draws it back into its 

 mouth covered with the insects 

 which adhere to it. In close corre- 

 lation with this mode of feeding- 

 are the tubular form of the facial 

 region, which is a mere sheath for 



the tongue, the small size of the month aperture, and the complete 

 absence of teeth. The same peculiarities occur in the structure of the 

 Scaly Ant-eaters {Maui.*), which are natives of Africa and the East 

 Indies, and also live on ants. They carry, however, a peculiar scaly 

 armour, which gives them the appearance of a moving pine-cone. 



Family of Three-Toed Sloth. (One- 

 tenth natural size.) 



