THE URSINE SLOTH, OR SLOTH BEAR. 73 



THE URSINE SLOTH, OR SLOTH BEAR, 



IN THE GARDENS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The whole tribe of sloths are unparalleled in the rest of the animal creation for slowness and inactivity. 

 Only three species have hitherto been discovered, two of which are natives of South America and the 

 third of India. The latter is the ursine sloth, and has been but lately introduced to the knowledge 

 of European naturalists. The animal has at first sight so much of the general aspect of the bear, that 

 it has actually been considered as such by some observers, but it is no otherwise related to the bear 

 than by its size and habit, or mere exterior outline. It is not so large as the bear, and is covered all 

 over, except on the face, or rather the snout, which is bare and whitish, with long, shaggy, black hair, 

 which on the neck and back is much longer than on any other parts. On the fore-part of the body 

 the hair points forwards ; on the hinder-part backwards. The eyes are very small : the nose, or snout, 

 is somewhat of an elongated form, totally destitute of hair ; it also appears as if furnished with a sort 

 of transverse joint, or internal cartilage, which in this part admits of a peculiar kind of motion. The 

 ears are rather small, and partly hidden in the long hair of the head. 



The animals belonging to this order have no front teeth in either jaw. The ursine sloth has two 

 canine teeth, of a moderate size, which, unlike the canine teeth of other animals, are obtuse. In the 

 two-toed and the three-toed sloth, there are five grinders on each side. 



The general attitude of this animal is strongly characteristic of its name. It appears to sleep away 

 the greater part of its time, rolled 'up like a great black ball in one corner of its den, and is only 

 roused by the calls of hunger or the authoritative mandate of the keeper. In the latter case it is 

 frequently a task of difficulty to rouse the sluggard, or to keep him for any length of time in an active 

 state. He returns instantly to his corner, rolls himself up, by putting his snout between his fore-legs, 

 and there remains almost a lifeless lump, until the voice of the keeper again awakens him. 



In the formation of his feet he very much resembles the common bear, particularly in the structure 

 of the claws, by means of which he is enabled to climb trees in search of prey, or to escape the pursuit 

 of its enemies. 



The colour of the animal is a complete black, with the exception of a whitish streak on each side of 

 the under jaw, and terminating near the chest, as represented in the engraving. It is, however, very 

 seldom that the animal can be brought into such an attitude as to display to the spectator this variation 

 of colour, for when pacing its den, it carries its snout generally close to the ground, like the hog, as if 

 in search of food. 



Of the other species of this tribe, some most singular accounts have been published, particularly by 

 Ercher, who rests his authority on the report of a Provincial of the Jesuits, who had been resident 

 in South America, and who, having at different times had several of these animals in his possession, 

 had tried several experiments with them relative to their nature and properties. The figure of the three- 

 toed sloth is, he says, most extraordinary. The animal is about the size of a cat, has a very ugly coun- 

 tenance, and has its claws extended like fingers. It lives generally on the tops of trees, and if these are 

 at all lofty it sometimes occupies two whole days in crawling up and as many in getting down again. 

 Providence has doubly guarded it against its enemies : first, by giving it such strength in its feet that 

 whatever it seizes it holds with astonishing tenacity : secondly, in having given it such an affecting 

 countenance, that when it looks at any one who might be tempted to do it an injury, it is almost 



