159 



URSINE SLOTH. 



Bradypus Ursinus. B. niger hirsutissimus , naso elongato nudo, pe- 



dibus pentadactylis. 

 Black Sloth, with very long shaggy hair, lengthened snout, and 



five-toed feet. 

 Ursine Bradypus, or Ursiform Sloth. Naturalist's Miscellany ; 



vol. i. pi. 58. 

 Ursiform Sloth. Pennant $>uadr. 2. p. 243. //. 92. 

 Petre Bear. Canon's Figures of Animals. 



This, "which is by far the largest species of 

 Sloth, is a native of India, and has been but lately 

 introduced to the knowledge of European natu- 

 ralists. It was brought from the neighbourhood 

 of Patna in Bengal. This animal has, at first 

 sight, so much of the general aspect of a 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. This species I first examined with accu- 

 racy in company with Mr. Pennant, and with 

 him collated its characters with those of the 

 Sloths. I described it in the second volume of 

 the Naturalist's Miscellany; and Mr. Pennant af- 

 terwards introduced it into the last edition of his 

 History of Quadrupeds. An excellent figure had 

 some time before been published by an ingenious 

 artist, which has been repeated both in the Na- 

 turalist's Miscellany, and in the History of Quad- 

 rupeds; and is, on account of its superior accu- 

 racy, again copied in the present work. It ex- 

 presses, in a peculiarly striking and just manner, 



