50 



THE FOSSIL SLOTH AT BIG BOXE CAVE, TENX. [Jan. 15, 



The first bone found (See Fig, 5) was an epiphysis of a humerus. 

 Then came a well-preserved vertebra No. 2 (see Fig. 6), found at a 

 depth of one foot eight inches below the surface and one foot from 

 the right wall of the cave. The small coprolites touched it on all 

 sides. Just above it lay a small twig of wood, and close to it sev- 

 eral bones of bats, described later, while both above and below it 

 we noticed wads of fine hair. The deposit was exceedingly dry, and 

 its removal filled the cave with suffocating dust clouds. Immediately 

 in contact with bone No. 2, as we worked horizontally into the bank, 

 lay bones Nos. 3, 3^ and 4, two unseparated vertebrae with a loose 



epiphysis resting 

 between tliem (see 

 Figs. 7 and 8), 

 directly under 

 which we found 

 two gnawed hick- 

 ory nuts and an 

 acorn. 



As we advanced 

 vertically into the 

 manure, another 

 vertebra, the fifth 

 bone found (see 

 Fig. 9), bone No. 

 6, the heel bone 

 (calcaneum) (see 

 Fig. 10), and bone 

 No. 7 (the astra- 

 galus), (see Fig. 

 11), were revealed 

 lying but a few 

 inches apart. 

 With deep interest 

 I removed them. 

 Just below the 

 fifth bone, at 

 which point the 



Fig. 7 (x 3/2)-— Third bone found (in Layer 2, depth 

 20 inches). Dorsal vertebra. Signs of rodent gnawing not 

 shown in photograph. Cartilage is seen attached to the 

 base of the right projection. 



their sharp canines and edged molars, dent the bones, or tear their corners irregularly, 

 while the rodents furrow the points of vantage neatly, with numerous unmistakable 

 parallel grooves, resembling the work of a coarse file held evenly. 



