220 THE MIDDLE ANT-EATER. 
as a hand for the purpose of conveying food into the mouth. The tongue of 
the Ant-eater, when protruded to its fullest extent, bears some resemblance 
to a great earth-worm, and as it is employed in its food-collecting task, it 
coils and twists about as if it possessed a separate vitality of its own. 
THE TAMANOIR, or GREAT ANT-EATER, or ANT BEAR, is entirely destitute 
of teeth, possesses a wonderfully elongated and_ narrow head, and is thickly 
covered with long coarse hair, which on the tail forms a heavy plume. The 
colour of this animal is brown, washed with grey on the head and face, and 
interspersed with pure white hairs on the head, body, and tail. The throat 
is black, and a long triangular black mark arises from the throat, and passes 
obliquely over the shoulders. There are four toes on the fore-feet, and five 
on the hinder. In total length it measures between six and seven feet, the 
tail being about two feet six inches long. 
The claws of the fore-feet are extremely long and curved, and are totally 
unfitted for locomotion. When the animal is not employing these instru- 
ments in destroying, it folds the long claws upon a thick rough pad which is 
placed in the palm, and seems to render the exertion of walking less difficult. 
As, however, the Ant-bear is forced to walk upon the outer edge of its fore- 
feet, its progress is a 
peculiarly awkward one, 
and cannot be kept up 
for any long time. The 
creature seems to pos- 
‘sess considerable grasping 
power in the toes of the 
fore-limbs, being able to 
pick up a small object in 
its paws. Though not a 
fighter, it can defend itself 
right well by means of 
these powerful instru- 
ments, and can not only 
strike with considerable 
violence, but when attack- 
ed by a dog or similar 
enemy, it clasps him in 
THE MIDDLE ANT-EATER, such a terrific grip, that 
the half-suffocated animal 
is only too glad to be able to escape. : ; 
The Ant Bear is said to make no burrow, but to content itself with the 
shade of its own plumy tail whenever it retires to rest. While sleeping, the 
creature looks very like a rough bundle of hay thrown loosely on the ground, 
for the hair of the main and tail is so long and so harsh that it can hardly be 
recognized at the first glance for the veritable coat of a living animal. The 
eye of this creature has a peculiar and indescribably cunning expression. 
The Tamanoir is a native of Guinea, Brazil, and Paraguay. ; 
THE MIDDLE ANT-EATER, or Tamandua, is not so large as the preceding 
animal, from which it is readily distinguished by the tail, which is long and 
tapering, and almost devoid of hair except at the base. The tail indeed 1s 
used as an organ of prehension, to assist it in climbing trees, a feat which it 
sometimes performs, although not so often as the Little Ant-eater. . 
This animal produces a strong scent of musk, which is generally excited 
when it is enraged. The scent is not pleasant, like that of the musk deer, 
but very disagreeable, and can be perceived at a considerable distance. ; 
The LITTLE ANT-EATER is a truly curious animal, The head of this 
