THE DUCK-BILL, OR MULLING ONG. 



635 



creature, attacking the nests of wasps, putting its little paw into the combs, and dragging the 

 grubs from their cells. 



Like its larger relations, it its nocturnal in its habits, and sleeps during the day with its 

 tail safely twisted round the branch on which it sits. The generic name Cyclothurus, signifies 

 "twisted-tail," and is very appropriate to the animal. 



OF the Edentate Order, embracing the toothless animals, so called, South America is 

 especially the home. All of the animals of this order are not toothless. Most, however, agree 

 in the absence of incisors and canines. Some have no teeth. Though these animals vary 

 exceedingly in form and habits, yet, in certain points of structure, there is a manifest affinity. 

 The strong- feet and claws of most species, and their general sluggishness, clumsy forms and 



want of intelligence, are quite characteristic of 

 the group. They are nearly peculiar to South 

 America, although feebly represented in Africa 

 and India. The teeth are very simple, when 

 present; there are no roots, nor enamelled cap- 

 pings to the crowns. 



It is a notable circumstance that though the 

 present living forms of this order are compara- 

 tively small and insignificant, the extinct species 

 are remarkable for the gigantic dimensions many 

 or most of them exhibit, as we may judge from 

 the very perfect remains that are found in the 

 caves and alluvial deposits. 



The bone caves of South America have fur- 

 nished forth most wonderful and numerous relics 

 of this order, which once inhabited that region. 

 In 1789, a Spanish officer sent home some bones, 

 gigantic in size. Cuvier found a sufficient number 

 to determine the frame of the great creature 

 known as the Megatherium. Though enormous 

 in size larger than the elephant yet this crea- 

 ture was like a true sloth. Its great frame was 

 supported by a massive pelvis and hind legs ; the 

 anterior extremities were constructed for grasp- 

 ing, and the head small, with teeth suitable for 

 browsing on the limbs of trees. The length of one 

 specimen was eighteen feet. The femur or thigh bone is three times the thickness of that 

 of the elephant. The remains of other species of this animal were found in South Carolina. 



The Megalonyx was another creature of great bulk, allied to the preceding. It is found 

 in both hemispheres. The term which is used to distinguish this species means great claws, 

 and refers to its enormous fore-feet. Specimens have been found in Virginia and several of 

 the Southern States. 



The Mylodon is another extinct sloth-like animal, the remains of which are found in Big- 

 bone Lick, in Kentucky. It is not so large as the Megatherium, yet had a length of eleven 

 feet. The distinct species are already made out, so abundant and comparatively perfect are 

 the bones found. Several other extinct genera of this order are found, indicated by very 

 perfect remains of bones, in North and South America. 



The remarkable Glyptodon, an extinct representative of the Armadillos, is found in South 

 America. The shell of this animal has been found resembling that of a turtle. Some attained 

 the length of fifteen feet. 



LITTLE ANT-EATEU. OyclotAurus dvdaclyluo. 



