THE GREAT ANT EATER. 



badnefs of the weather, or the late hour, caufe the Ants to remain in their 

 habitation, the Ant-Eater overturns the hill, or digs holes in it with its ftrong 

 claws ; when, thrufting its long tongue into the retreats and palTages of the 

 neft, it withdraws it, loaded with prey, which it inftantly devours. 



Notwithftanding this animal is deftitute of teeth, and ftmns the combat, 

 it is fierce, and even dangerous when attacked ; and, if it can once get its 

 adverfary within the grafp of its fore feet, nothing but the death of the 

 animal will make it quit its hold. In this manner it fubdues even the Panther 

 of America (a,) when it has the imprudence to attack it, and having once 

 fixed its talons in the fides of its enemy, they both fall together, and both 

 generally perifti ; for fuch is the obftinacy of this creature, that it will not 

 extricate itfelf even from a dead adverfary (b.) 



An ingenious writer (c) remarks, that the moll active, fprightly, and 

 ufeful quadrupeds alfemble themfelves round the habitations of man ; where 

 they are either fubfervient to his pleafures, or maintain their independence, 

 by their cunning and induftry. It is in the remote folitudes of the foreft, or 

 on the defert mountains, that we muft look for the helplefs, deformed, and, 

 as it were, monftrous births of nature, who find fafety in places which are 

 fhunned by the bolder and more active animals. This remark is verified in 

 the Ant-Eater, which lives chiefly in woods, and lies concealed under the 

 fallen leaves. 



This animal inhabits Brafil and Guiana, where its flefli is eaten by the 

 Indians, but is of a firong, difagreeable tafte. 



(a) Gum ilia Orcaoquc, iii. 232. 



(b) Piso Brasil, 320. 



(c) Dr. Goldsmith. 



