In response to love of the Potto and as an excuse for neglecting blogging here's a photo of my new mentor.
Sloths live in the rain-forests of south America and have an extremely low metabolism. Like many animals they are rapidly becoming an endangered species. I can just about make the effort to find a Sir Thomas Browne connection here. Remarkably, somehow the worthy physician knew of the Sloth. In what must be one of the very earliest recorded references to the creature and with typical humour he makes the moral observation-
To strenuous minds there is an inquietude in overquietness, and no laboriousness in labour; and to tread a mile after the slow pace of a Snail, or the heavy measures of the Lazy of Brazilia were a most tiring penance, and worse than a Race of some furlongs at the Olympicks. -Christian Morals I:33
Sloths aren't really lazy, they're intelligently conserving energy. In a way Europeans named them unfairly, calling them after a deadly sin.
ReplyDeleteSloths are so crazy-looking and cute. The expression in the face looks likes he's in on are secret we're not.
ReplyDeleteLaura, you're welcome to the link as your potto post was its inspiration! Sadly the chapter you mention is seized upon by white supremacists totally misunderstanding Browne's intention. Stephen Jay Gould frequently alluded to Sir T.B.
ReplyDeleteNick, thanks for the good point about unfair type-casting, maybe they should be a world conservation role-model!
Laurie, I think you're right, we may well be missing out big-time on some inner secret of living!