IQQ WANDERINGS IN 



Third Thus, it would appear that the different histories we 

 JoLRNE v. YiQYQ of this quadruped are erroneous on two accounts : 

 first, that the writers of them, deterred by difficulties 

 and local annoyances, have not paid sufficient attention 

 to him in his native haunts ; and secondly, they have 

 described him in a situation in which he was never 

 intended by nature to cut a figure ; I mean on the 

 ground. The Slotli is as much at a loss to proceed on 

 his journey upon a smooth and level floor as a man 

 would be who had to walk a mile in stilts upon a line 

 of feather beds. 



The two- One day, as we were crossing the Essequibo, I saw a 



toed Sloth. 



large two -toed Sloth on the ground upon the bank ; how 

 he had got there nobody could tell : the Indian said he 

 had never surprised a Sloth in such a situation before : 

 he would hardly have come there to drink, for both above 

 and below the place, the branches of the trees touched 

 the water, and affi^rded him an easy and safe access to 

 it. Be this as it may, though the trees were not above 

 twenty yards from him, he could not make his way 

 through the sand time enough to escape before we 

 landed. As soon as we got up to him he threw himself 

 upon his back, and defended himself in gallant style with 

 his fore-legs. " Come, poor fellow," said I to him, 

 " if thou hast got into a hobble to-day, thou shalt not 

 suffer for it : I'll take no advantage of thee in misfor- 

 tune ; the forest is large enough both for thee and me 



