322 DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



one tree to another. We then see the aye-aye, 

 from Madagascar, so named from its cry; this 

 singular animal, unique in European collections, 

 was discovered hy Sonnerat. On the lower 

 shelves we see porcupines, remarkable for the 

 long black and white spikes which cover their 

 bodies. We have four species of them ; one from 

 the Brazils (histrioc prehensilis), which has a pre- 

 hensile tail, and is of I en found on trees. 



The numerous species and varieties of hares 

 and rabbits occupy several shelves in the last case 

 but one. The order of the 1 odenlia is terminated 

 by the guinea-pigs (ancema, F. Cuvier), of which 

 the aperea of Brazil is the original type. 



The last case of this room is filled by sloths 

 {brad/pus), which are at the head of the order 

 edentata. The unau, or two-fingered sloth [bra- 

 djpus didactylus), and the ai, or three- fingered 

 sloth {b. tridactylus) , are the two known spe- 

 cies of this extraordinary genus, and are from 

 South America. Their fore-legs are much longer 

 than those behind ; so that when walking they 

 are obliged to drag themselves along on their 

 elbows; and their pelvis is so large, that they 

 cannot bring their knees close together : their 

 hair is coarse and brittle. The female brings 

 forth but one young at a time, which she carries 

 on her back. These animals live on trees, and 



