GREAT ' ANT-EATER. 
3L 
GREAT ANT-EATER. 
( Myrmecophciga jiibata.) 
This Ant-eater, the Tamanoir of Buffon, is a native of Guayana, Brazil, Peru, and Paraguay. 
It is the largest of all toothless terrestrial animals. It measures four feet and a half from the 
snout to the tail, which is three feet long. The height at the shoulders is three feet and three 
inches, and two feet and ten inches at the croup ; in consequence of which, being perfectly 
plantigrade, it stands lower behind than before, like the badger and bear. The hair of the 
head is short and close; but over all the rest of the animal it is long and shaggy, particularly 
on the top of the neck and on the tail, where it is a foot in length, forming a heavy plume. 
The color is brown, mingled with gray on the head and face, and interspersed with pure white 
hairs on the head, body and tail. The throat and hind-legs are black ; and a long triangular 
black band stretches obliquely over the shoulders. The head is wonderfully elongated, taper- 
ing and carved; the month is a short slit at the extremity of the snout; the eyes are small; 
the ears are short and round; and the tongue is long, cylindrical, and protractile. The claws 
of the fore-foot are four in number; of the hind-feet, five. The former, when the animal is 
walking, are doubled inwards on a rough callous pad, the outer edge of the foot alone touching 
the ground. The hook-like claws are well adapted for forcibly entering the solid dwellings of 
the Termite ants. The creature runs with a peculiar trot, and, when chased, will keep a horse 
in canter. Though not a fighter, it is a match for the Dog, or even the Jaguar, — striking with 
force, and clasping with a terrible gripe. From its mode of defence it is sometimes called 
Ant-bear. It does not burrow, contenting itself with the shade of its huge tail when tak- 
iug its rest. The flesh, though black and musky, is highly esteemed by the Indians. 
