370 WILD BEASTS OF THE WOELD 



overtake and even drive it along ; but it is not a creature to take liberties 

 with, nevertheless, for when roused to desperation it will turn and hug 

 its enemy, its huge fore-claws penetrating with deadly effect. It is 

 even said that the Jaguar himself has succumbed to the fatal talons, 

 and Dogs are liable to fare badly in such an encounter. 



The ordinary use of these formidable claws is to tear open Ant- 

 hills, or those of the Termites — the so-called " White-Ants " so numerous 

 everywhere in the tropics, for on such small creatures the Ant-eater 

 feeds, licking them up with its long slimy- tongue. 



The Ant-eater seems usually to be a solitary animal, but the female 

 displays considerable affection for her single cub, which when quite 

 small is already a miniature of the parents ; there is a case on record 

 in which an Indian, who had captured a young Ant-eater, was pursued 

 by the infuriated mother, and perished in her relentless grip, as he 

 unhappily tripped over his blow-gun in trying to escape her attack. 

 The creature is sometimes killed for food, and its flesh is said by 

 Bates, who found it a great stand-by when on one occasion he found 

 it difficult to get anything to eat but fish and vegetables, to be very 

 good, something between pork and goose in flavour. 



A creature of this kind does not seem at first sight to be at all a 

 promising subject for captivity ; but in point of fact it thrives well, 

 and is usually to be seen in the large Zoological Gardens, including 

 our own. It has even bred in one of these institutions on the Con- 

 tinent. Minced raw horse-flesh mixed with milk has been found by 

 experience to be a good substitute for its natural insect food, but this 

 diet would probably be much improved by the admixture of a quantity 

 of the various kinds of dried insects now so much in favour for 

 feeding insectivorous birds, as well as of that invaluable insect, the 

 Mealworm. It will also eat such small animals as Cockroaches and 

 young hairless Mice. Although, of all land animals, hardly any can 

 be less suited to aquatic habits, in captivity at any rate it shows a 

 decided inclination to take to water, and those kept in our Zoological 

 Gardens are always provided with facilities for having a bath, of which 

 they are not slow to avail themselves. 



