Strange and unfitted for existence as are many of the animals formed by
the Almighty to the short-seeing eye of mortals, on a further
acquaintance with them all will be discovered admirably suited to the
life they are destined to enjoy. Following Waterton, we may take five
as an example. The sloth, which has four feet, is unable to use them to
support his body on the earth. They are destitute of soles, and the
muscles requisite for progress in a perpendicular position; yet no
creature is more thoroughly at home when clinging to the trees on which
it has been created to exist. The ant-bear, without a tooth in his
head, roves fearlessly in the forests inhabited by the jaguar and
boa-constrictor. The sharp claws of his fore-feet enable him to
confront the former, and his powerful muscular body and thick hair set
even the boa at defiance. The vampire is unable to use his feet for
walking, but he possesses a membrane, stretched by means of his legs,
which enables him to mount up into an element where no other quadruped
can follow. The armadillo, without fur or wool or bristles, has in
their stead a movable shell placed on his back, so formed that he can
roll himself up in a ball, while with his sharp claws he can dig rapidly
into the earth to escape his foes. The tortoise is compelled to
accommodate itself to the shell, which is hard and inflexible, and in no
way obedient to the will of its bearer; yet that very shell, although so
apparently inconvenient, serves as its protection. The turtle is
protected in the same way; but its delicious flesh brings numerous
enemies to attack it, from whom it has a hard task to escape. The egg
of the tortoise, it may be remarked, has a very hard shell; while that
of the turtle is quite soft.