226 THE THREE-TOED SLOTH 
Sloth travels best in windy weather, because the branches of trees are blown 
against each other, and permit the animal to pass from one tree to another 
without descending to the ground. 
The food of the Sloth consists of leaves, buds, and young shoots. It 
appears to stand in no need of water, being satisfied with the moisture which 
clings to the herbage on which it feeds. In gathering the leaves and drawing 
the branches within reach, the Sloth makes great use of its fore-paws, which, 
however helpless upon the ground, can be managed with great dexterity. It 
is very tenacious of life, and is protected from any injury which it might 
receive from falls by the peculiar structure of its skull. In length it is 
about two feet. : 
THE AI, or THREE-TOED SLOTH, is an inhabitant of South America, and is 
more common than the preceding animal, from which it can easily be distin. 
guished by the third toe on its feet. The colour of this animal is rather 
variable, but is generally of a brownish grey, slightly variegated by differ- 
ently tinted hairs, and the head and face being darker than the body and 
limbs. The hair has a curious hay-like aspect, being coarse, flat, and harsh 
towards the extremity, although it is very fine towards the root. Owing 
to the colour and structure of the hair, the Ai can hardly be distinguished 
from the bough under which it hangs, and owes much of its safety to 
this happy resemblance ; for its flesh is very good, and, in consequence, the. 
poor creature is dreadfully persecuted by the natives, as well as by the white 
hunters. The cry of this creature is low and plaintive, and is thought to 
resemble the sound 4z. The head is short and round, the eyes deeply 
sunk in the head, and nose large and very moist. 
The young of the Ai, as well as those of the other Sloths, cling to their 
mother as soon as they are born, and are carried about by her until they are 
able to transfer their weight from their parent to the branches. Several 
other species of Sloths are known to exist, but all are similar in appearance 
ana habits. 
