The sloth is the only quadruped known which spends its whole life from the
branch of a tree, suspended by his feet. I have paid uncommon attention to
him in his native haunts. The monkey and squirrel will seize a branch with
their fore-feet, and pull themselves up, and rest or run upon it; but the
sloth, after seizing it, still remains suspended, and suspended moves along
under the branch, till he can lay hold of another. Whenever I have seen him
in his native woods, whether at rest or asleep or on his travels, I have
always observed that he was suspended from the branch of a tree. When his
form and anatomy are attentively considered, it will appear evident that
the sloth cannot be at ease in any situation where his body is higher, or
above, his feet. We will now take our leave of him.
In the far-extending wilds of Guiana the traveller will be astonished at
the immense quantity of ants which he perceives on the ground and in the
trees. They have nests in the branches four or five times as large as that
of the rook; and they have a covered way from them to the ground.
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