by lapping.

It is gregarious, feeding in herds of thirty or forty; in which case it is generally observed that one is stationed at a distance from the rest, apparently as a sentinel. It sometimes uses its tail as a weapon of defence, giving such severe blows with it to dogs as to oblige them to desist from the pursuit. It will also kick with its hind feet with great violence, and during this action it supports itself on the base of its tail.

The kangaroo is one of those remarkable species of quadrupeds that are furnished with a pouch in which their young are fostered; and the agility which the females display when thus encumbered with the burden of their offspring is truly astonishing.

The flesh of the kangaroo is commonly eaten by our colonists in New South Wales: it is said to be rather coarse, but well flavoured and nutritious.

233

THE SLOTH.

Of the animals called sloths, from the extreme slowness and sluggishness of their movements, there are three species, distinguished by the number of their toes, having respectively two, three, and five toes. The two former are natives of the hotter parts of South America; the latter, called the ursine sloth, from its shaggy coat, is found in India, chiefly in the island of Ceylon. They are harmless inoffensive creatures, living wholly on vegetable food. It is the three-toed species which we have to describe.

In its general appearance it is extremely uncouth; the body is thick, the feet very small, but armed with three very long strong claws, of a curved form and sharp-pointed. The head is small, the face short, naked, and

of a blackish colour; the eyes are small, black, and round; the ears also are small, and lie close to the head. The hair on the top of the head projects over and gives to the animal a very peculiar and grotesque physiognomy. Its general colour is a greyish brown; and the hair, which thickly covers the body, especially the back and thighs, is of moderate length and extremely coarse.

The most particular account that we can find of the habits of the sloth is that given by Kircher, the Jesuit. Its figure, he says, is extraordinary it is about the size of a cat, has a very ugly countenance, and long claws like fingers. It sweeps the ground with its belly, and moves so slowly that it would scarcely go the length of a bowshot in a fortnight, though constantly in motion. It lives generally on the tops of trees, and takes two days in crawling up one, and as many in getting down. Nature has doubly guarded it

against its enemies; in the first place by giving it such strength in its feet as to hold whatever it seizes so fast, that it can never extricate itself but must die of hunger; and secondly, in having given it such an affecting countenance that, when it looks at any one who might be tempted to injure it, he can scarcely help being moved by compassion: it sheds tears also, and persuades you that a creature so abject and defenceless ought not to be tormented.

By way of experiment one of these animals was brought to the Jesuits' College at Carthagena. A long pole being put under his feet, he grasped it firmly, and would not loose it again. The sloth was therefore raised upon. this pole, which was placed between two beams, where the animal remained suspended without food for forty days, the eyes being always fixed on those who looked at him, who were so affected that they could not forbear pitying

his dejected state. When he was at length taken down, a dog was let loose on him; he presently seized this assailant in his claws, and held him there till he died of hunger.

In this account the slowness of the motions of the sloth is considerably exaggerated; as we learn from later writers that he will move at the rate of fifty or sixty paces in a day, and one that was on board ship climbed to the mast-head in about an hour.

In climbing, the sloth first carelessly stretches out one of his fore paws, and fixes his claws in the bark of the tree as high as he can reach ; he then heavily drags up his body, and gradually fixes his other paws, raising himself apparently with the utmost difficulty. When in the tree, he continues there till he has stripped it of leaves and bark, upon which he feeds; and then, to save himself the trouble of a tedious and laborious descent, he drops, it is said, to the ground, being preserved by his