THE ANT-BEAR. 



607 



less uncouthly formed when we reflect that it is in exact accordance with the wants of 

 the animal. For here no deep cavity was required for the reception of two rows 

 of powerful teeth, as in most other quadrupeds, but a convenient furrow for a long 

 and extensile tongue — the use of which will immediately become apparent on follow- 

 ing the animal into the Brazilian campos, where the wonderful cities of the white ant 

 are dispersed over the plains in such incalculable numbers. Approaching one of these 

 structures, the ant-bear strikes a hole through its wall of clay with his powerful 

 crooked claws, and as the ants issue forth by thousands to resent the insult, stretches 

 out his tongue for their reception. Their furious legions, eager for revenge, imme- 

 diately rush upon it, and, vainly endeavoring to pierce its thick skin with their 

 mandibles, remain sticking in the glutinous liquid with which it is lubricated from two 

 very large glands situated below its root. When sufficiently charged with prey, the 

 ant-bear suddenly withdraws his tongue and swallows all the insects. 



Without swiftness to enable him to escape from his enemies, for man is superior to 

 him in speed; without teeth, the possession of which would assist him in self-defence; 

 without the power of burrowing in the ground, by which he might conceal himself 

 from his pursuers ; without a cave to retire to, the ant-bear still ranges through the 

 wilderness in perfect safety, and fears neither the boa nor the jaguar, for he has full 

 reliance on his powerful fore-legs and their tremendous claws. Schomburgk had an 

 opportunity of witnessing a young ant-bear make use of these formidable weapons. 

 On the enemy's approach it assumed the defensive, but in such a manner as to make 

 the boldest aggressor pause; for, resting on its left fore-foot, it struck out so desper- 

 ately with its right paw as would undoubtedly have torn off the flesh of any one that 

 came in contact with its claws. Attacked from behind, it turned round with the 

 rapidity of lightning, and on being assailed from several quarters at once, threw itself 

 on its back, and, desperately fighting with both its fore-legs, uttered at the same time 

 an angry growl of defiance. In fact, the ant-bear is so formidable an opponent that 

 he is said not unfrequently to vanquish even the jaguar, the lord of the American 

 forests, for the latter is often found swimming in his blood, with ripped up bowels, a 

 wound which, of all the beasts of the wilderness, the claws of the ant-bear are alone 

 able to inflict. On seizing an animal with these powerful weapons, he hugs it close 

 to his body, and keeps it there till it dies through pressure or hunger. Nor does the 

 ant-bear, in the meantime, suffer much from want of aliment, as it is a well-known 

 fact that he can remain longer without food than perhaps any other quadruped, so 

 that there is very little chance indeed of a weaker animal's escaping from his clutches. 



Peaceable and harmless, the ant-bear when unprovoked never thinks of attacking 

 any other creature ; and as his interests and pursuits do not interfere with those of the 

 more formidable denizens of the wilderness, he would, without doubt, attain a good 

 old age, and be allowed to die in peace, if, unfortunately for him, his delicate flesh 

 did not provoke the attacks of the large carnivora and man. To be sure, the Indian 

 fears his claws, and never ventures to approach the wounded ant-bear until he has 

 breathed his last ; nor can he be hunted with dogs, as his skin is of a texture that 

 perfectly resists a bite, and his hinder parts are effectually protected by thick and 

 shaggy hair; yet, armed with the dreadful wourali poison, the Indian knows how to 

 paralyze in a few minutes his muscular powers, and to stretch him dead upon the 

 earth. A perfect forest vagabond, the ant-bear has no den to retire to, nor any fixed 



