FAUNA AMERICANA. 199 



Order, EDENTATA. 



Character. No incisors in either jaw. Some- 

 times canine and molar teeth, at other times mo- 

 lars only, often none whatever. Four extremi- 

 ties terminated by a variable number of toes, 

 armed with large nails, never constructed like 

 hands. The orbitar and temporal fossae united. 



Nourishment phytivorous, insectivorous, or car- 

 nivorous, according to the species. 



Habit. Generally very slow in their move- 

 ments; some destined to climb trees, some to 

 burrow in the earth, others to swim, &c. 



Inhabit South America, Africa, the Indian 

 Archipelago, and New Holland. In North Ame- 

 rica, they are found only in a fossil state. 



\st Tribe, Tardigrada. 



Char. Face short. 



Canines and molars, or molars only ; claws very 

 long and hooked. 



Inhabit South America. Fossil locality, North 

 and South America. 



Genus. 

 Megatherium, Cuvier. (Foss.) 



CHAHACTEHS. 



Csuperiore. ^i^t^'f* 

 Bental formula—Teeth 10.^ I Molar 4. 



6nferior4. ^IST'^' 

 t Molar 4, 



