THE TIDE OF EVENTS.

Southland Times, Issue 19264, 30 January 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE TIDE OF EVENTS.

A Few Things seen from the Headland. — — — > One of the Eccentric Animals. The ant-eater of the South American forests can easily justify a claim to be included ia any list of " eccentric " animals, not only from its appearance but from its structure. Look at the tiny head, with long, tubular, oothless jaws, and protrusile, worm-like ongue, and contrast these with the massive .imbs and enormous tail, which has no match n the whole animal world. Now this tail serves, according to Indian legend, as an umbrella

or sunshade ; and with it the female shelters her cub, which is carried on her back, from wind and rain. This eccentric beast is not, as one may see from the forefeet, which are turned inwards, a swift traveller, lint the claws with which they are armed deserve to i be reckoned amongst the most formidable means of defence in the animal world. The jaguar, larger and fiercer than the leopard of the Old World, has been found dead in the grip of the dead ant-eater, whose thick, hairy skin is generally a good defence against fangs and claws.