STORY OF THE ANT-EATER. 
As its name imports, the ant-eater lives principally upon ants and termites, 
or white ants, as they are called, which it takes by thrusting its long, slender 
tongue among the ants, which adhere toi it by -a gummy saliva. When the 
tongue is covered it is rapidly retracted, and the ants swallowed. 
Its short legs and long claws would lead an observer to suppose that its 
pace was slow and constrained; but, when chased, it runs off with a peculiar 
trot, and with such rapidity that it keeps a horse to its speed to. overtake it. 
The tongue of this animal looks exactly like a. great red worm 1 , and, when 
the creature is engaged in devouring its food, the rapid coiling and twisting 
of the tongue add in no small degree to the resemblance. 
The claws are very long and curved, and, as they are used in tearing down 
the habitation of the termites, are exceedingly strong. They are placed on 
the foot in such a manner that, when the animal is walking, its weight rests 
on the outside of the fore-feet and the outer edge of the claws, which make 
a great clattering if the ant-eater is walking upon a hard surface. 
When it sleeps it lies on one side, rolls itself up, so that its snout rests 
on its breast, places all its feet together, and covers itself with its bushy tail. 
The fur of the animal at all times resembles hay, and, when it is thus curled 
(up in sleep, it is so exactly like a bundle of hay, that any one might pass it 
carelessly, imagining it to be nothing but a loose heap of that substance. 
A tame ant-eater once in my possession by no means restricted itself to ants, 
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