110 
Quadrupeds. 
THE GREAT ANT-EATER. (Myrmecophaga jubata.) 
The body of the Great Ant-eater is covered with ex- 
ceedingly coarse and shaggy hair. Its head is very long 
and slender, and the mouth but just large enough to ad- 
mit 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, some- 
what like the tail of a horse. The whole length of the 
animal, from the end of the snout to the tip of the tail, 
is sometimes seven or eight feet. Its food consists prin- 
cipally of ants, which it obtains in the following man- 
ner : — When it comes to an ant-hill, it scratches it up 
with its long claws, and then unfolds its slender tongue, 
which much resembles an enormously long worm. This 
being covered with a glutinous matter or saliva, the ants 
adhere to it in great numbers : these it swallows alive, 
repeating the operation till no more are to be caught. 
He also tears up the nests of wood-lice, which it in 
like manner discovers ; but should it meet with little 
success in its pursuit of food, it is able to fast for a con- 
siderable time without inconvenience. The motions of 
the Ant-eater are in general very slow. It swims, how- 
ever, over great rivers with ease ; and, on these occa- 
sions, its tail is always thrown over its back. With 
this extraordinary member, when asleep, or during 
heavy showers of rain, the animal is also said to cover 
its back ; but at other times he carries it extended 
behind him. The Ant-eater is a native of South 
America. 
