SOUTH AMERICA. 167 

 As the Sloth is an inhabitant of forests within the Third 



Journey. 



tropics, where the trees touch each other in the greatest 



profusion, there seems to be no reason why he should 

 confine himself to one tree alone for food, and entirely 

 strip it of its leaves. During the many years I have 

 ranged the forests, I have never seen a tree in such a 

 state of nudity ; indeed, I would hazard a conjecture, 

 that, by the time the animal had finished the last of the 

 old leaves, there would be a new crop on the part of 

 the tree he had stripped first, ready for him to begin 

 again, so quick is the process of vegetation in these 

 countries. 



There is a saying amongst the Indians, that when the 

 wind blows, the Sloth begins to travel. In calm weather 

 he remains tranquil, probably not liking to cling to the 

 brittle extremity of the branches, lest they should break 

 with him in passing from one tree to another ; but as 

 soon as the wind rises, the branches of the neighbouring 

 trees become interwoven, and then the Sloth seizes hold 

 of them, and pursues his journey in safety. There is 

 seldom an entire day of calm in these forests. The trade- 

 wind generally sets in about ten o'clock in the morning, 

 and thus the Sloth may set off after breakfast, and get a 

 considerable way before dinner. He travels at a good 

 round pace ; and were you to see him pass from tree to 

 tree, as I have done, you would never think of calling 

 him a Sloth. 



