The Sloths, Ant-eaters, and Armadillos 



339 



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tUulo (/</ A. S. RuMand i- Sons. 



TAJfANDUA AST-EATEE. 



This species, wliich is .1 snuiller animal than the Great Ant-eater, lives almost entirely in the trees, instead of on the tp-ound. 



fifth limb. Curled round the bough of a tree, its owner is free to swins himself out on to 

 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 sjiecies 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 irto 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 nipjjers, I thought that this little creature might 

 perhajis live on the nymphse of wasps, etc. I therefore brought it a wasps' nest, and then 

 it pulled out with its nijipers the nymj^has 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. 



Eeaders 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. 



