SOUTH AMERICA. 



171 



each carrying in its mouth to its nest a green leaf, the Third 



Journey. 



size of a sixpence. It is wonderful to observe the order 



in which they move, and with what pains and labour they 

 surmount the obstructions of the path. 



The Ants have their enemies, as well as the rest of ^^""^^ „ 



' species or 



animated nature. Amongst the foremost of these stand Ant-bears, 

 the three species of Ant-bears. The smallest is not much 

 larger than a rat ; the next is nearly the size of a fox ; 

 and the third a stout and powerful animal, measuring 

 above six feet from the snout to the end of the tail. He 

 is the most inoffensive of all animals, and never injures 

 the property of man. He is chiefly found in the inmost 

 recesses of the forest, and seems partial to the low and 

 swampy parts near creeks, where the Troely tree grows. 

 There he goes up and down in quest of Ants, of which 

 there is never the least scarcity ; so that he soon obtains 

 a sufficient supply of food, with very little trouble. He 

 cannot travel fast ; man is superior to him in speed. 

 Without swiftness to enable him to escape from his ene- 

 mies, without teeth, the possession of which would assist 

 him in self-defence, and without the power of burrowing 

 in the ground, by which he might conceal himself from 

 his pursuers, he still is capable of ranging through these 

 wilds in perfect safety ; nor does he fear the fatal pressure 

 of the serpent's fold, or the teeth of the famished Jaguar. 

 Nature has formed his fore legs wonderfully thick, and 

 strong, and muscular, and armed his feet with three 



z 2 



