3^8 N A R R A T 1 V E O F A N 



CHAP, kies not excepted) are better climbers on the trees, where 

 XXVIII 



thefe creatures commit dreadful ravages amongft birds- 

 nefts, every fmall animal which they can conquer be- 

 coming their prey. In the poultry-yards in particular 

 they commit great devaftations, on which account every 

 contrivance that can be invented is put in pradite to 

 deftroy them. 



As I am upon the fubjedt of animals, before I leave 

 the woods I muft defcribe another creature, which inhabits 

 them, and which (though more than twice the fize of 

 the laft) lives chiefly on ants ; this is the great ant-eat er^ 

 or ant-bear^ called alfo the iamanQlr, and by the Spa- 

 niards .the ofa palmer a. The body of this animal is co- 

 VfSred over with very long fliaggy hair; on the back 

 and belly it is black, and on the neck and fides a grey or 

 yellovvifla white ; the head is extremely long and Render, 

 of a light bay colour, with very fmall eyes ; the ears are 

 fhort and round, and the mouth (which has no teeth) juft 

 large enough to admit its tongue ; the tail is of an enor- 

 mous fize, with very long black hair, fomething like that 

 of ahorfe: with this extraordinary tail, when aReep (which 

 is generally in the day time, or during a hard fhower of 

 rain) the animal covers itfelf like a fquirrel; at other times 

 he trails it along, and fweeps thrC ground. The limbs are 

 Render, but covered with long hair-; the hindmoffc legs 

 being fliortefl and black, w^th five claws ; thofe before are 

 of ^ dirty white, with but four claws, the two middle claws 

 Mng of an extraordinary length. 



The 



