2. The Tamandua (111. Tamandua, Cuvier), is an animal much inferior to the Great Ant-Bear in point of size, being scarcely so large as a good-sized cat, whilst the other exceeds the largest greyhound in length, though, from the shortness of its legs, it is much inferior in height. The head of the Tamandua is not so disproportionately long and small as that of the Great Ant-Bear. It is however of the same general cylindrical form, and equally truncated at the extremity, having the nostrils and mouth situated in the same position, and : equally minute, when compared with the size of the animal. Its whole length, from the extremity of the muzzle to the root of the , ear, is 5 inches, and to the anterior angle of the eye, 3 inches ; the body, from the muzzle to the origin of the tail, measures 2 feet 2 inches, the tail itself being 1 foot 4/ inches more; the height at the shoulder is 1 foot 3 inches, and at the croup an inchlower ; the length of the ear is lk inch, its greatest breadth an inch, and the greatest circumference of the head—that, namely, taken immediately in front of the ears-8.1 inches. The conformation of the extremities, and the number of the toes both before and behind, are in every respect the same as in the Great Ant-Eater; but the Tamandua differs from this animal particulaily in the prehensile power of its tail, which makes essentially an arboreal quadruped, and altogether changes the most striking traits of its habits and economy. The hair over the entire body also is of a very different texture; instead of being long, harsh, and, shaggy, as in the Great Ant-Bear, it is short, shining, and of a consistence something between the qualities of silk and wool ; standing out from the body like the latter, and of the same uniform length in every part. The colours of this species, however, are by no means so uniform and invariable as those of the species already described ; on the contrary, they differ more in the Tamandua, according to the individual, than perhaps in any other known animal in a state of nature. Accordingly many eminent naturalists are disposed to consider them as forming distinct species, rather than more varieties of the same ; and it is not improbable that, when we come to be better acquainted with this animal in its native woods, their opinion may he at least partly confirmed.
The eyes of the Tamandua are minute ; the ears small and round ; the body long and cylindrical ; the legs short and robust ; the tail round and attenuated, covered with very short hair throughout its greater part, but naked underneath towards the point, and strongly prehensile. There are several varieties of the Tamandua, chiefly distinguished by differences of colour.
The Tamandua is an inhabitant of the thick primeval forests of tropical America; it is never found on the ground, but resides exclusively in trees, where it lives upon termites, honey, and even, according to the report of Azara, bees, which in those countries form their hives among the loftiest branches of the forest, and, having no sting, are more readily despoiled of their honey than their congeners of our own climate. When about to sleep it hides its muzzle in the fur of its breast, falls on its belly, and letting its fore-feet hang down on each side, wraps the whole tightly round with its tail. The female, as in the case of the Great Ant-Eater, has but two pectoral manme, and produces but a single cub at a birth, which she carries about with her, on her shoulders, for the first three or four months.
The young are at first exceedingly deformed and ugly, and of a uniform straw-colour.
This animal bac a strong disagreeable odour, which is so powerful that it may be pereelved at a very great distance, particularly when the animal is irritated. Tantandue is the name by which it is known to the Portuguese of Brasil ; the French call it Fourmillier and the English the Little Ant-Bear.
3. The Little or Two-Toed AnteEater (3f. Linn.) is easily distinguished from the other two species, not only by its size, which does not exceed that of the common European squirrel, but likewise by the number of its toes, four on the posterior and only two on the anterior extremities. The form and general proportions of its body resemble those of the Tnmandua, only on a very reduced Neale. Its whole length, from the snout to the origin of the tail, is but 6 inches, that of the head not quite 2 inches, and of the tail 7i inches. This organ is consequently rather longer than the body ; it is thick at the root, and 'severed with short fur, but tapers suddenly towards the point, where it is naked and strongly prehensile. The muzzle is not so long, in proportion, as in the other two species ; the tongue also is shorter, and has a flatter form ; the mouth opens farther back in the jaws, and has a much larger gape, the eye being situated close to its posterior angle ; the ears are short, rather drooping, and concealed among the long fur which covers the head and cheeks ; the lege are short and stout, and the hair very fine and soft to the touch, three quarters of an inch in length on the body, but much shorter on the head, legs, and tail. Tho general colour is that of straw, more or leas tinged with maroon on the shoulders, and particularly along the median line of the back, which usually exhibits a deep line of this shade. This species is said to have four mamuire, two pectoral, as in those already described, and two others ou the abdomen. It is reported, nevertheless, to have but a single cub at a birth, which it conceals in the hollow of some decayed tree. The native countries of the Little Ant-Eater are Guyana and Brazil, beyond which it appears not to extend farther towards the south, gimes Azara is not only unacquainted with it, but imagines from Buffon'a and Daubenton's descriptions that it must be the young of his Taman due. The habits and manners of this little animal are thus described by Von Sack, in his 'Narrative of a Voyage to Surinam' :— known, I thought of trying if they would breed in n dike ; but when I returned from any excursion Into the country, I found them both dead, perhaps occasioned by the trouble given to procure the wasps' nests for them, though they are here very plentiful : wherefore I can give no further description of them than that they slept all the day long curled together, and faetened by their prehensile tails to one of the perchea of the cage. When touched they erected themselves on their hind-legs, and struck with the forepaws at the object which disturbed them, like the hammer of a clock striking the bell, with both paws at the same time, and with a great deal of strength. They never attempted to run away, but were always ready for defence, when. attacked. As soon as evening came they awoke, and with the greatest. activity walked on the wire of the cage, tholigh they never jumped, nor did I ever hear their voice."