64 NATURAL HISTORY. 
place they have fmaller crefts, and fhorter quills, thaz 
thofe of Afia and Africa. —__ 
In Rome it is fold for food in the public markets. 
ie SMHS — 
SLOTH. 
"Tuere are two kinds of this animal; one of 
which has two claws on each foot, and is without a 
tail; the other, three claws on each foot, with a tail; 
and are both defcribed under the common appellation 
of the floth, ‘It is about the fize of a badger, and has 
a coarfe fur, refembling dried grafs ; the tail is ex- 
ceedingly thort ; and the mouth extends from ear to 
ear. ‘Lhe feet of this animal are fo obliquely placed, 
that the foles fcarcely ever touch the ground. The 
conftruction of its limbs is fo fingular, that it can 
move only at the rate of about three yardsin an hour. 
Thus, unlefs impelled by hunger, it is feldom induced 
to change its place. . 
The floth inhabits many parts of the eaftern fide of 
South America. It is the meaneft, and moft ill formed ~ 
of animals. Leaves, and fruits of trees, are its chief 
food. Itisaruminating animal, for which purpofe © 
nature has provided it with four ftomachs. 
Although it afcends a tree with great difficulty, yet 
it cannot defcend without forming itfelf into a ball, 
and dropping from the branches to the ground, where 
the fhock caufes it to remain for a confiderable time 
ina perfect ftate of inactivity. To travel from one 
tree to another, at the diftance of one hundred yards, - 
is, for this animal, a week’s journey. 
'Every effort which the floth makes to move, ap- 
pears fo painful and difficult,’ as to caufe it to utter 
the moft pitiful cry ; which is likewife wifely given 
it for its protection ; for, being defencelefs, as well 
as incapable of flight, it could never efcape deftruc- 
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