8 
WANDERINGS IN 
first A species of the polecat, and another of the fox, 
JOURNEY. 1 _ t T /. • 
are destructive to the Indian’s poultry; while the 
opossum, the guana, and salempenta, afford him a 
delicious morsel. 
The small ant-bear, and the large one, remarkable 
for its long, broad, bushy tail, are sometimes seen 
on the tops of the wood ants’ nests ; the armadillas 
bore in the sand hills, like rabbits in a warren; and 
the porcupine is now and then discovered in the 
trees over your head. 
The sloth. This, too, is the native country of the sloth. His 
looks, his gestures, and his cries, all conspire to en¬ 
treat you to take pity on him. These are the only 
weapons of defence which nature hath given him. 
While other animals assemble in herds, or in pairs 
range through these boundless wilds, the sloth is 
solitary, and almost stationary 5 he cannot escape 
from you. It is said, his piteous moans make the 
tiger relent, and turn out of the way. Do not then 
level your gun at him, or pierce him with a poisoned 
arrow ; — he has never hurt one living creature. 
A few leaves, and those of the commonest and 
coarsest kind, are all he asks for his support. On 
comparing him with other animals, you would say 
that you could perceive deficiency, deformity, and 
superabundance in his composition. He has no 
cutting teeth, and though four stomachs, he still 
wants the long intestines of ruminating animals. 
He has only one inferior aperture, as in birds. He 
has no soles to his feet, nor has he the power of 
moving his toes separately. His hair is flat, and 
