SLOTHS, ANT-EATERS, AND ARMADILLOS 3903 
TAMANDUA ANT-EATER 
This species, which is a smaller animal than the Great Ant-eater, lives almost entirely in the trees, instead of on the ground 
Photo by A. ud'and & Sons 
fifth limb. Curled round the bough of a tree, its owner is free to swing himself out on ta 
another branch. 
The smallest of the tree-dwelling species is not larger than a rat, and is a native of the 
hottest parts of the forests of South and Central America. The muzzle in this species is quite 
short, not long and tubular, as in the larger species. It is a very rare animal, or is at least 
very seldom seen, a fact perhaps due to its small size. It is known as the Two-TOED ANT- 
EATER, only the second and third fingers of the fore feet bearing claws. 
Von Sack, in his ‘‘ Narrative of a Voyage to Surinam,” tells us that the natives of Surinam 
call this little animal “ Kissing-hand” — ‘as the inhabitants pretend that it will never eat, 
at least when caught, but that it only licks its paws, in the same manner as the bear; that 
all trials to make it eat have proved in vain, and that it soon dies in confinement. When 
I got the first, I sent to the forest for a nest of ants; and during the interim I put into its 
cage some eggs, honey, milk, and meat; but it refused to touch any of them At last the 
ants’ nest arrived, but the animal did not pay the slightest attention to it either. By the 
shape of. its fore paws, which resemble nippers, I thought that this little creature might 
perhaps live on the nymphz of wasps, etc. I therefore brought it a wasps’ nest, and-then 
it pulled out with its nippers the nymphz from the nest, and began to eat them with the 
greatest eagerness, sitting in the posture of a squirrel. I showed this phenomenon to many 
of the inhabitants, who all assured me that-it was the first time they had ever known that 
species of animal take any nourishment.” 
THE ARMADILLOS 
Readers of this book will doubtless have noticed long ere this how manifold are the devices 
for the purpose of defence adopted by the Mammalia. The ARMADILLOS have certainly selected 
the most complete, having encased themselves in an impenetrable bony armour as perfect as 
the coat of mail of the warrior of the Middle Ages. Concerning this and the variations 
thereon adopted by the different members of the group we shall speak presently. 
Armadillos are mostly confined to South America, and occur both in the open pampas and 
the shady depths of the forest. They live in burrows, which they dig with incredible speed. 
These burrows are generally found in the vicinity of the nests of ants and termites, which 
form their staple diet. One species, however, at least feeds apparently with equal relish upon 
vegetable matter, eggs, young birds, mice, snakes, and carrion. 
