SOUTH AMERICA. 173 

 intolerable attitude for the Ant-bear. The length and Third 



Journey. 



curve of his claAvs cannot admit of such a position. 



When he walks or stands, his feet have somewhat the 

 appearance of a club-hand. He goes entirely on the 

 outer side of his fore feet, which are quite bent inwards ; 

 the claws collected into a point, and going under the foot. 

 In this position he is quite at ease ; while his long claws 

 are disposed of in a manner to render them harmless to 

 him, and are prevented from becoming dull and worn, 

 like those of the dog, which would inevitably be the case, 

 did their points come in actual contact with the ground ; 

 for his claws have not that retractile power which is given 

 to animals of the feline species, by which they are enabled 

 to preserve the sharpness of their claws on the most flinty 

 path. A slight inspection of the fore feet of the Ant- 

 bear, will immediately convince you of the mistake artists 

 and naturalists have fallen into, by putting his fore feet in 

 the same position as that of other quadrupeds ; for you 

 will perceive that the whole outer side of his foot is not 

 only deprived of hair, but is hard and callous ; proof 

 positive of its being in perpetual contact with the ground. 

 Now, on the contrary, the inner side of the bottom of his 

 foot is soft and rather hairy. 



There is another singularity in the anatomy of the Peculiarity 

 Ant-bear, I believe, as yet unnoticed in the page of natural tomy of the 



Ant-bear. 



history. He has two very large glands situated below 

 the root of the tongue. From these is emitted a glutinous 



