QUADRUPEDS. 
87 
THE GREAT ANT-EATER. (Myrmecophaga jubata.) 
THE body of the Great Ant-eater is covered with exceed- 
ingly coarse and shaggy hair. Its head is very long and 
slender, and the mouth but just large enough to admit its 
tongue, which is cylindrical, nearly two feet in length, 
and lies folded double within it. The tail is of enormous 
size, and covered with long black hair, somewhat like the 
tail of a horse. The whole animal, from the end of the 
snout to the tip of the tail, is sometimes eight or nine 
feet in length. The food of this very singular animal 
consists principally of ants, and these he obtains in the 
following manner: When he comes to an ant-hill, he 
scratches it up with his long claws, and then unfolds his 
slender tongue, which much resembles an enormously long 
worm. This being covered with a clammy matter or 
saliva, the ants adhere to it in great numbers : then, by 
drawing it into his mouth, he swallows thousands of them 
alive ; and he repeats the operation till no more are to be 
found. 
He also tears up the nests of wood-lice, which he in 
like manner discovers; and frequently climbs trees in 
quest of these insects, and of wild bees or their honey. 
But should he meet with little success in his pursuit of 
food, he is able to fast for a considerable time without in- 
