THE GREAT ANT-EATER. 



fmall and black; the ears fliort and round; the noftrils are placed clofe 

 together, at the extremity of the nofe. It has four toes on the fore feet, and 

 five on the hinder ones; the two middle claws on the fore feet are very 

 large, flrong, and hooked : the colour of the hair, on the upper part of the 

 neck, fhoulders, and back, is black, mixed with grey. A broad, black line 

 extends from the lower part of the neck crofs the moulders, which becomes 

 gradually narrower, as it proceeds along the fides towards the back. It is 

 bounded above by a narrow line, which extends its whole length. The hair, 

 on the upper part of the body, is half a foot long, and has the appearance of 

 a thick mane; the fore legs are whitilh, marked above the feet with a black 

 Ipot; the tail is covered with very coarfe, black hairs, a foot long. The 

 animal, being very fearful of rain, ufes this part as a defence againft the wet, 

 by throwing it over its back, like the Squirrel. 



The Ant-Eater is flow in its motions, it fleeps during the day time ? 

 concealed under the fallen leaves, in the woods, and feldom ventures from 

 its retreat, except to fatisfy the calls of hunger, when the induftry of an hour 

 fupplies it with a fufficiency to laft it for feveral days. It feeds on Ants, and 

 the lingular method it makes ufe of to catch them is, perhaps, one of the moft 

 curious fadts in natural hiftory. In the countries where this animal is found, 

 the Ants are in great abundance, and conftrucl; hills, or nefts, which are 

 frequently five or fix feet high, where they live in fociety. The Ant-Eater, 

 having found one of thefe nefts, approaches it with caution, creeping flowly 

 on its belly, and concealing itfelf with as much care as poffible, till it is 

 fufficiently near for the execution of its purpofe, when, extending its tongue 

 acrofs the path ufed by thefe bufy infedts, it remains motionlefs, in that 

 polture, for fome minutes. The Ants, miftaking the tongue for a piece of 

 flefh, or a worm, never fail to crawl on it, in great numbers, and wherever 

 they touch it, they are inftantly entangled by the flimy fluid with which the 

 tongue is covered, and which is as tenacious as bird-lime. When the tongue 

 is funiciently covered with Ants, the animal inftantly draws it into its mouth, 

 and devours them in a moment; and this operation is repeated till its hunger 

 is completely fatisfied, when it retires to its lurking place; but, ihould the 



