THE STORY OF THE ANT-EATER. 
357 
second. In the hind-feet there are four nearly equal-sized toes, which are 
placed close together so as to form a hook-like organ somewhat after the 
fashion of the foot of a sloth. The fur is soft, thick and silky; its color being 
generally foxy red above and gray beneath, with the individual hairs grayish 
brown or black at the base, and yellowish brown at the tips. The skull differs 
from that of the other ant-eaters by its shorter muzzle. The lower jaw is less 
widely removed from the ordinary type. Another peculiarity in the skeleton 
is the presence of well-developed collar-bones. 
THE GREAT ANT-EATER. THE ANT-BEAR. 
THE LESSER ANT-EATER. 
The two-toed ant-eater is an exclusively tree inhabiting animal. It in¬ 
habits Northern Brazil, Guiana and Peru, between the tenth parallel of south 
and the sixth parallel of north latitude, and it also extends into Central 
America; its range thus including the very hottest portions of the continent. 
In the mountains it ascends to an elevation of some two thousand feet above 
the sea. It is either a rare creature, or one but seldom seen, even by the 
natives; frequenting the thickest portions of the forests, and escaping ob¬ 
servation through its habits and small size. Like its larger relatives, it leads, 
