58 



WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



resistance on the part of nature was observed, as if 

 Further re- existence struggled for superiority; but in the 



marks on the n -,, . , n ±i i ji tp i_ • 



virulence of following instance ot the sloth, iiie sank m 

 the poison. ( j ea| ^ without the least apparent contention, 

 without a cry, without a struggle, and without a groan. 

 This was an Ai, or three-toed sloth. It was in the 

 possession of a gentleman who was collecting curiosities. 

 He wished to have it killed, in order to preserve the 

 skin, and the wourali poison was resorted to as the 

 easiest death. 



Of all animals, not even the toad and tortoise ex- 

 cepted, this poor ill- formed creature is the most tena- 

 cious of life. It exists long after it has received 

 wounds which would have destroyed any other animal ; 

 and it may be said, on seeing a mortally wounded 

 sloth, that life disputes with death every inch of flesh 

 in its body. 



The Ai w T as wounded in the leg, and put down on 

 the floor, about two feet from the table ; it contrived 

 to reach the leg of the table, and fastened itself on it, 

 as if wishful to ascend. But this was its last advancing 

 step : life was ebbing fast, though imperceptibly ; nor 

 could this singular production of nature, which has 

 been formed of a texture to resist death in a thousand 

 shapes, make any stand against the wourali poison. 



First, one fore-leg let go its hold, and dropped down 

 motionless by its side ; the other gradually did the 

 same. The fore-legs having now lost strength, the sloth 

 slowly doubled its body, and placed its head betwixt 

 its hind legs, which still adhered to the table ; but 

 when the poison had affected these also, it sank to the 

 ground, but sank so gently, that you could not distin- 

 guish the movement from an ordinary motion ; and had 



