EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 32() 



The great ant-eater is a very bad walker, refting always chap 

 on the heel of his awkward long feet, like the coati and XXViil. 

 bear; but he is a better climber, and fo good a fighter, 

 that no dog will hunt him, fince whatever animal he 

 catches between his fore claws (nay even the jaguar or 

 tiger) he will not releafe while he has life. His food, as 

 I have faid, confiils of ants, which he takes in the follow- 

 ing manner: — when he comes to an ant-hillock, he unfolds 

 his flender tongue, Vvhich is about twenty inches long, 

 moft exactly refembling a worm ; this being covered 

 over with a clammy matter or faliva;, the ants get upon 

 it in great numbers, and by drawing it into his mouth, 

 he fwallows thoufands all alive, and renews the operation, 

 till no more are to be found, when he marches in queft 

 of another mountain, and in the fame manner deftroys 

 the unwary inhabitants. He alfo climbs in quefl of wood- 

 lice and wild honey ; but fliould he meet with little fuc- 

 cefs in his devaftations, he is able to faft a confiderable 

 time without the fmalieft inconvenience. It is faid that 

 the great ant-bear is tameable, and that then he will pick 

 crumbs of bread, and fmall pieces of flefli ; alfo that 

 when killed, he affords good food to the Indians and ne- 

 groes, the laft of which I have feen devour his fleih with 

 pleafure. Some ant-bears meafure, from the fnout to the 

 tip of the tail, no lefs than eight feet.— See the two laft- 

 defcribed animals in the plate annexed. 



A fmall fpecies of ant-bear, called the tamandua<i is 

 alfo found in Surinam, though not very common. This 



Vol. II. ' U \\ differs 



