THE LITTLE ANT-EATER. 221 
creature is comparatively ‘short ; its body is covered with fine silken fur, and 
~ its entire length does not exceed twenty or twenty-one inches. The tail is 
well furred, excepting three inches of the under surface at the extremity, 
which is employed as the prehensile portion of that member, and is capable 
of sustaining the weight of the body as it swings froma branch. On looking 
LITTLE ANT-EATER.—(Cyclothurus didactylus.) 
at the skeleton, a most curious structure presents itself. On a side view, the 
cavity of the chest is completely hidden by the ribs, which are greatly 
flattened, and overlap each other so that on a hasty glance the ribs appear to 
be formed of one solid piece of bone. There are only two claws on the fore- 
feet, and four on the hinder limbs. 
