PREVIOUS TO THE LAST GEOLOGICAL REVOLUTION. 155 



The next genus, with only one species of which I am ac- 

 quainted, carries us still farther towards the confines of the 

 armadillo family ; and surprises us with characters hitherto 

 considered peculiar to the sloths. This astonishing monster 

 combines, with the size of an ox, a coat of mail, most like 

 that of Tolypeutes, but of astounding thickness, and extre- 

 mities fashioned nearly after the form of the armadillo, with 

 short thick feet, and with immensely broad and short claws, 

 which must have given its foot almost the appearance of that 

 of an elephant or hippopotamus. It has the sloth's head, with 

 the same characteristic structure of the zygoma. Its teeth 

 are shaped like the molars of the Capivar, but have a dif- 

 ferent structure, inasmuch as they are simple, and not com- 

 posed of lamince. In the details of its internal structure, it 

 presents, besides, several peculiarities not observed in any 

 other animal. I call this remarkable animal ^ Hoplophorus 

 Euphractus. 



Finally, I conclude my list of this family with a genus, 

 which, from the little I yet know of it, seems to offer so com- 

 plete a passage into the next family, that it will require more 

 perfect specimens to decide to which of them it belongs. 

 The general characters of its feet are those of the armadillo ; 

 but so shortened and thickened, and with such massive 

 proportions, that I cannot resist indicating this genus, for the 

 present, by the name of Pachy titer ium. It seems to have 

 been of the same size as the preceding, or rather larger ; but 

 I have not hitherto found any trace of its having had a coat 

 of armour. 



A.rmadilloes are now confined to this portion of the globe ; 

 and we see from the above short sketch, that they also inha- 

 bited this district in the previous geological period. No trace 

 of these animals in the fossil state having hitherto been dis- 

 covered in the old world, we may conclude with certainty, 

 that the geographical distribution of this genus was the same 

 then as now. We shall have further opportunities of esta- 

 blishing this fact in the course of our enquiries. But not 

 only did this group of animals exist here in former times; it was 

 also richer in subordinate forms and species than it now is. 

 If we examine more closely the generic forms that formerly 

 composed this family, we find that one of them {Dasypus, 

 Wagl.), still exists, but that the remaining five are extinct. 

 And although there are good grounds for suspecting that a 

 more accurate acquaintance with the fossils of this district 

 will bring to light more existing generic forms of this family, 



• Named l)y Professor Owen, Gli/jHodon. 



