THE STORY OF THE SLOTH. 
One of the most singular animals is the South American sloth, a creature 
which a short time ago was thought to lead a most miserable life, owing to 
its, awkward and painful movements when placed upon the ground. Nature 
never intended the sloth to live upon the ground at all, but designed it for 
a life in the trees, for which it is fitted in a very remarkable manner. 
The sloth, instead of climbing after the manner of the squirrel or the 
monkey, passes almost its whole existence beneath the boughs, to which 
it clings with its long and strongly-curved claws, its back being thus toward 
the ground. In this singular position the sloth eats, drinks, and sleeps, 
traveling slowly from tree to tree every now and then, and seeming seldom 
or never to descend to the ground. 
The sloth is gifted with great strength, and its muscles, moreover, 
possess most wonderful power of endurance, so that although the entire 
weight of the body is constantly supported by the limbs, they never give 
way to fatigue. 
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