Nature was observed, as if existence struggled for superiority, but in the
following instance of the sloth life sunk in death without the least
apparent contention, without a cry, without a struggle and without a groan.
This was an ai, or three-toed sloth. It was in the possession of a
gentleman who was collecting curiosities. He wished to have it killed in
order to preserve the skin, and the wourali poison was resorted to as the
easiest death.

Of all animals, not even the toad and tortoise excepted, this poor ill-
formed creature is the most tenacious of life. It exists long after it has
received wounds which would have destroyed any other animal, and it may be
said, on seeing a mortally-wounded sloth, that life disputes with death
every inch of flesh in its body.

The ai was wounded in the leg, and put down on the floor about two feet
from the table; it contrived to reach the leg of the table, and fastened
itself on it, as if wishful to ascend. But this was its last advancing
step: life was ebbing fast though imperceptibly, nor could this singular
production of Nature, which has been formed of a texture to resist death in
a thousand shapes, make any stand against the wourali poison.

First one fore-leg let go its hold, and dropped down motionless by its
side; the other gradually did the same. The fore-legs having now lost their
strength, the sloth slowly doubled its body and placed its head betwixt its
hind-legs, which still adhered to the table; but when the poison had
affected these also it sunk to the ground, but sunk so gently that you
could not distinguish the movement from an ordinary motion, and had you
been ignorant that it was wounded with a poisoned arrow you would never
have suspected that it was dying. Its mouth was shut, nor had any froth or
saliva collected there.