The Sloth spends nearly the whole of its life in the trees, and travels along the branches body downwards. It rarely comes to the ground, on which it walks with difficulty, and it occasionally takes to the water and swims. It looks slothful enough when asleep, for it then resembles a bunch of rough hair, and a jumble of limbs close together, hanging to a branch; but when awake, it is industrious in its search for nice twigs and leaves, and moves along the under side of the branches of the trees with some activity. It seizes the ends of adjoining branches, clinging to the leafy mass, and moves from tree to tree quickly enough, when it is requisite, and it has a very singular power of moving the head and neck backwards in seeking food. When the atmosphere is still, the Sloth keeps to its tree, feeding on the leaves and twigs, but when there is wind, and the branches of neighbouring trees come in contact, the opportunity is seized, and the animal moves along the forest, under the shady cover of the boughs. The Indians have a saying that “when the wind blows the Sloths begin to crawl,” and the reason is thus evident enough--the animal cannot jump, but it can hang, swing, and crawl suspended. Mr. Waterton states, however, that “the Sloth travels at a good round pace, and were you to see him passing from tree to tree you would never think of calling him a Sloth. Being born up in a tree, living amongst the branches, feeding on leaves, and finally dying amidst the foliage, and enjoying life as much as any other animal, its structure and conformation are, of course, admirably suited for this arboreal existence. Its power of grasp is great, and is assisted by the great bent claws as it hangs by its feet when asleep, and also often when it is dead. One which was much frightened by being taken from the forest had a pole placed near it at a little distance from the ground, on two supports. It clung directly to the pole and hung on. A Dog was then made to attack the Sloth, which seized it in its long claws, and did not let go until the enemy died.” Leading thus a very unusual kind of life, up amongst the dense foliage, and having some very unusual peculiarities of construction, much debate occurred many years since regarding the general conformation as well as the special anatomy of the Sloths. One school of anatomists considered the Sloths incomplete and abnormal animals, moving with “pain” on the ground, and another regarded their unusual and peculiar anatomy as singularly beneficent.