Within the recesses of the primeval forest, near the borders of a river
or lake, a large mass of what looks, at a little distance, like a
collection of some long, coarse, curled, fibrous substance, is often
seen by the hunter. The jaguar glances at it askance and passes it
by,--although, when hunger presses him, he may long to obtain the dainty
meal which lies beneath. The huge hairy mass is the tail of the
ant-bear, which serves it as a shelter from the rays of the noonday sun
and from the deluges of the rainy season: spread out over its body, it
is the sole covering it seeks, as it neither burrows, nor takes up its
abode in the hollows of trees nor in artificial caves. With its
elongated toothless head and thin tongue, it seems utterly incapable, at
the first glance, of defending itself, not only against the jaguar or
puma, but, notwithstanding its great size, against even the attacks of
the smallest carnivorous animals of the wilds, as it moves with toilsome
and awkward steps over the ground. It cannot climb the trees; unadapted
for swimming, it dare not seek safety in the water; and incapable of
moving rapidly, it is unable to run from its foes. Its hind-feet,
unlike those of many animals, are valueless for defence; but yet it has
not been left without ample means of protection. Examine its fore-feet,
and on each will be seen two large, powerful, trenchant claws. With
these, aided by its muscular power, and thick hide covered with long
coarse hair, it boldly defies the attacks of the fiercest creatures.
Of a peaceable disposition, it makes its solitary way through the
forest; but woe betide the hunter's dogs, or any other animals, which
venture to assail it! With one blow of these sharp weapons it rips up
its assailant, or hugs it in a close embrace, where its own thick skin
resists the teeth of its foe; and, able itself to endure hunger longer
than any other animal, it keeps it thus till starved to death.
Vast numbers of ants and termites swarm in the tropical forests of South
America, of great varieties of form and mode of life and occupation.
Their business in the economy of nature is chiefly the consumption of
decayed vegetable matter, which would otherwise contaminate the
atmosphere. They are furnished with incalculable powers of increase,
and, to prevent their too great excess, other animals have been created
to prey on them. The chief creature engaged in that work is this most
extraordinary denizen of the forest--the ant-bear, or great ant-eater
(Myrmecophaga jubata), called also the tamanoir. It often measures,
from the tip of its snout to the extremity of its tail, eight feet; and
though it seems wonderful that so large an animal should be able to
subsist solely on such minute insects, yet, from the formation of its
mouth, it is unable to consume any other. It has a long slender head,
with a pointed snout; and its mouth, entirely destitute of teeth, is
furnished with a long flexible tongue, covered with a glutinous saliva.
This it passes lightly over the swarms of ants which rush out when it
attacks their dwelling, and they, adhering to it, are speedily dragged
into its maw.
Its body is covered with long, coarse, shaggy hair, except on the head,
where it is short and close; while its black bushy tail is of great size
and length. It is plantigrade--that is, it stands lower on the
hind-legs than in front. Though its mouth appears so incapable of
enabling it to defend itself, it can do so effectually with the two
long, sharp claws of its fore-feet. With these claws it opens the
ant-hills, on whose inhabitants it subsists. Its hind-feet have five
toes, but they are furnished with short, weak claws, similar to those of
ordinary quadrupeds.
Its favourite resort is the low swampy marshes of the rivers and
stagnant pools; but it also ranges widely in search of its prey. It
lives in solitude; its habits are slothful; it sleeps during the greater
part of the day. Its long claws, when not employed, are folded upon a
thick rough pad, which renders the exertion of walking less difficult.
As, however, it is compelled to step upon the outer edge of its
fore-feet, it progresses in an awkward and painful manner, and it cannot
move for any length of time. Its eye possesses a peculiarly cunning
expression.
Of a peaceable and harmless disposition, the ant-bear, when not
provoked, never attacks any animal; but on the approach of an enemy, it
assumes the defensive in such a way as to make the boldest aggressor
pause. Resting on its left fore-foot, it strikes out its right with a
force sufficient to tear off the hide of the thickest-skinned assailant.
When attacked from behind, it turns round with the rapidity of
lightning; and when assailed from several quarters at once, it throws
itself on its back, fighting desperately with both its fore-legs, and
uttering angry growls of defiance. So thick is its hide, that no animal
has been found with teeth capable of piercing it; and even when the
jaguar, pressed by hunger, dares to assail it, the monarch of the
American forest is often driven off, or left weltering in its blood from
the wounds inflicted by the formidable claws of the ant-bear.
When attacking an ant-castle, the tamanoir strikes a hole in the wall of
clay with his powerful, crooked claws. The warrior-ants then issue out
by thousands to resent the insult, while the labourers retire to the
inmost recesses. The soldiers swarm on every part of their assailant,
but their sharp mandibles are unable to pierce its thick skin. The bear
then putting forth its long tongue, which is lubricated from two large
glands situated below its root, the insects remain sticking in the
glutinous liquid. When a sufficient supply has been thus obtained, it
draws back its tongue within its mouth, and swallows the whole army at a
gulp.