88 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
THE ANT-EATER. 
233. This animal is a native of South America, 
and it lives wholly on ants and other insects. The 
tongue, which is the only instrument with which it 
seizes its food, is long, wormlike, and covered with a 
glutinous moisture. Having cautiously placed itself 
in a favourable situation by an ant-hill, it thrusts out 
its tongue to its full length. The ants, delighted 
with its slimy and glistening appearance as it lays 
stretched in the sun, crowd upon it in great numbers. 
When the Ant-eater thinks there are enough, he 
suddenly draws in his tongue, and devours the whole 
of them in an instant. 
234. The Ant-eater is covered with coarse and 
shaggy hair. Its motions are slow, but it swims 
well. Its legs are so strong, that few animals can 
extricate themselves from its gripe. It will fix it- 
self upon a panther so firmly, that both of them fall 
and perish together ; for it will not relinquish its 
hold even after it is dead. 
What country is the Ant-eater a native of? In what way does 
the Ant-eater obtain its food ? What is said of its hair motions, 
and the strength of its limbs ? 
