Chlami/phorus truncatus* 155 



Cuvier, that justly celebrated naturalist, remarks : " In zoo- 

 logy, -when the teeth and jaws of an animal are given, the re<^ 

 XDaining structure may be readily determined ; at least as far as 

 relates to essential characters." The form of the tooth determines 

 that of the condyle ; the form of the scapula, that of the nails ; 

 just as the equation of a curve indicates all its properties ; as iti 

 taking each property separately for the basis of a particular equa- 

 tion, we might arrive, not only at the ordinary equation, but at 

 all the other properties ; so the nail, the scapula, the maxillary 

 condyle, the femur, and all the other bones, taken separately, 

 would indicate each other reciprocally ; and beginning with either 

 separately, we might, according to the rational laws of the organic 

 economy, construct the whole animal." 



It is thus, by a perfect knowledge of the laws of co-existence, 

 to which the combinations of animals are subjected, the skull 

 alone of the animal under consideration would have enabled us to 

 determine that it belonged to a new, and nondescript genus. 



The varied, magnificent, and multiplied collection of natural 

 objects, in the Philadelphia Museum, drawn from Q\ery depart- 

 ment of nature, displays in the strongest light the wonderful 

 results to be obtained, by the talent, industry, perseverance, and 

 zeal, of an individual. The venerable octo-genarian/bz/y/rfer still 

 lives, to contemplate with sentiments of pride aiid delight the 

 colossal monument which has risen at his command; which will 

 perpetuate the fame, and hand down the name of Charles Wilson 

 Peale to the latest posterity. 



On the present occasion, as on many others, I have been in- 

 debted to the Philadelphia Museum, for the opportunity of mak- 

 ing the clearest illustration of the subject of investigation. : I 

 have also to congratulate myself in the aquaintance of iVIr. Williani 

 W. Wood, a young, but zealous naturalist, whose talents :^s a 

 faithful delineator of nature, have only tp be known, to be duly 

 estimated. 



The order Edentata includes quadrupeds destitute of incisor 

 teeth, forming the last order of Cuvier's clawed animals. Al- 

 though united only by a negative character, there exist some 

 pojfeitivc relations between them, particularly the large nails whic^ 



