URSINE SLOTH. l6l 



somewhat elongated form; it also appears as if 

 furnished with a sort of transverse joint, or in- 

 ternal cartilage, which admits of a peculiar 

 kind of motion in this part. The claws on 

 the fore feet are five in number, and are exces- 

 sively strong; moderately crooked, and sharp- 

 pointed : those on the hind feet are shorter, and 

 of a rounder shape. The tail is very short, and 

 inconspicuous. The animal, at the time this de- 

 scription was drawn up, was thought to be some- 

 what more than four years old. When first taken 

 it is said to have been about the size of a raccoon, 

 and to have sometimes barked in the manner of 

 a dog. Its voice, however, when examined as 

 above, was a sort of short, abrupt roar, which it 

 uttered when much disturbed or irritated. It was 

 a gentle and good-natured animal ; it fed chiefly 

 on vegetable substances and milk; was fond of 

 apples, and did not willingly eat animal food, ex- 

 cept of a very tender nature, as marrow, which it 

 readily sucked from a bone presented to it. It 

 was also delighted with honey, sugar, and other 

 sweets. Its motions were not, as in the two former 

 species, slow and languid, but moderately lively ; 

 and it appeared to have a habit of turning itself 

 round and round every now and then, as if for 

 amusement, in the manner of a dog when lying 

 down to sleep. It was said to have a propensity 

 to burrowing under the ground ; and it was added, 

 that it had been dug out of its subterraneous re- 

 treat by those who first discovered it. 

 v. i. 11 



