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THE SLOTH.

Bradypus.

THE sloth, unlike any other quadruped, makes its home in the trees, never leaving them except from force or accident. It does not rest upon the branches like the squirrel and the monkey, but clings to the under part of them. Many naturalists, not having studied the habits of this singular animal in its native condition, rashly thought, from the melancholy cry it uttered, and from its inability to move without great difficulty on level ground, that its life was one of constant pain. It received its present ill-deserved name from an opinion, that the animal was too indolent to stir from the tree it had chosen for its abode, until it had eaten all the leaves, and then, compelled by hunger, it rolled itself into the form of a ball and dropped to the ground, from whence with slow and awkward

movements it regained another tree to strip in the like manner.

Later and more observant naturalists have shown how erroneous these opinions are. In the tropical forests which the animal inhabits, the trees touch each other in the greatest profusion, so that there is manifestly no reason why it should be at a loss for food. Mr. Waterton states that "during the many years he had ranged the forests he never saw a tree in such state of nudity; indeed, that most likely by the time the animal had eaten the last of the old leaves there would be a new crop for him to begin upon again, so quick is the process of vegetation in these countries." We may also safely rest assured that instead of leading a life of pain and misery the sloth in its natural state, enjoys existence as much as any other animal formed by the merciful hand of the Creator.

We will make some extracts from Mr. Waterton's interesting account of this curious creature. His remarks are the more valuable and pleasing, as he has studied, both in a state of nature and in captivity, the habits of a variety of animals, with

a peculiar kindness of heart and great attention to their happiness and comfort. "When," says Mr. Waterton, "we consider attentively the form and habits of the sloth, it will appear that he cannot be at ease in any situation where his body is higher or above his feet. His fore-legs, or more properly speaking his arms, are apparently much too long, while his hind-legs are very short, and look as if they could be bent almost to the shape of a corkscrew. Both fore and hind legs, by their form and by the manner in which they are joined to the body, cannot support the animal on the earth by the legs, as the bodies of other quadrupeds are. Now if he could support himself like other animals, he would be in pain, for he has no soles to his feet, and his claws are very sharp, long, and curved. Were the floor of glass, or any polished surface, the sloth would be actually stationary ; but as the ground is generally rough, with stones, or roots of grass, &c., this just suits the sloth, and he moves his fore-legs in all directions in order to find something to lay hold of, and thus he pulls himself forward, but travels in so tardy and

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awkward a manner as to acquire the name of Sloth. Indeed his looks and his gestures evidently betray his uncomfortable situation, and as a sigh every now and then escapes him, we may be entitled to conclude that he is actually in pain; the sloth, in fact, is as much at a loss to proceed on his journey upon a smooth and level ground, as a man would be who had to walk a mile in stilts upon a line of feather beds. One day, as we were crossing the Essequibo, I saw a large two-toed sloth on the ground upon the bank; how he had got there nobody could tell. The Indian said he had never surprised a sloth in such a situation before; he would hardly come there to drink, as the branches of the trees touched the water, and afforded him an easy and safe access to it. Be this as it may, though the trees were not above twenty yards from him, he could not make his way through the sand time enough to escape before we landed. As soon as we got up to him he threw himself on his back and defended himself in gallant style with his fore-legs. Come, poor fellow,' said I to him, if thou hast got into a hobble to-day, thou

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shalt not suffer for it. I'll take no advantage of thy misfortune; the forest is large enough for thee and me to rove in; go thy ways up above, and enjoy thyself in those endless wilds. So fare thee well!' On saying this, I took up a long pole which was lying there, held it for him to hook on, and then conveyed him to a high and stately Mora. He ascended with wonderful rapidity, and in about a minute he was almost at the top of the tree. He now went off in a side direction, and caught hold of the branch of a neighbouring tree; he then proceeded towards the heart of the forest. followed him with my eye till the intervening branches closed in betwixt us, lost in amazement at his singular mode of progress; and if you had seen him pass from tree to tree, as I did, you would never think of calling him a sloth. I observed when he was climbing that he never used his arms both together, but first one and then the other, and so on alternately. There is a saying amongst the Indians, that when the wind blows, the sloth begins to travel.' In calm weather he remains tranquil: probably not liking to cling to

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