Natural History. — Fossil Bones. SCg 



What Cuvier has proved in regard to the megalonix, he 

 before proved in regard to the megatherium. The remains 

 of that animal found in Paraguay, show that it must have 

 been of the size of the rhinoceros. An entire skeleton of 

 it is preserved in the cabinet of Madrid. M. Cuvier, em- 

 ploying the same method and form of reasoning in regard 

 to these bones, as those applied to the bones of the mega- 

 lonix, establishes, with the same force of argument, that the 

 megatherium oughtto be placed also in thegenusof the sloth. 



These two large species, therefore, which have disap- 

 peared from the surface of the earth, were herbivorous, and 

 it is difficult to conjecture by what causes they were anni- 

 hilated. The neighbouring species, which still exist, are 

 composed of animals much smaller. 



The captain-general Ernouf, commandant of Guada- 

 loupe, has written a letter to M. Faujas Saint Fond, dated- 

 21st Messidor last, in which he communicates to him some 

 observations of natural history, and among others the fol- 

 lowing note : 



" Your son must have informed you, on his arrival in 

 France, of the tour I made in the island, and that I visited 

 the famous Cote du Mole, where are found bodies of the 

 Caribs, enveloped in masses of petVified madrepore. I en- 

 couraged an active and intelligent individual, with a view 

 of procuring some of these remarkable skeletons. The 

 one in the best preservation I destine for the Museum ot 

 Natural History. I have o-iven some negroes, who are 



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stone-cutters, to the person who presides over this labour, 

 which is attended with great difficulty in the execution : 

 ■1st, because these bones of the Caribs adhere to abed of 

 madrepores exceedingly hard, and which can be attacked 

 only with the chisel ; 2nd, Because the sea at every full tide 

 covers the place where they are. I however hope to accom- 

 plish my end. 



" These human remains arc of a large size ; the mass 

 which must be extracted with ihem is about eight feet in 

 length, and two and a half broad, and will weigh about 

 3000 pounds, but it can be easily transported by sea. 



"Opinions arc divided in regard to their origin : some 

 say that a great battle was fought in this place between the 

 natives of the island and those of another ; others assert, 

 that a fleet of piroguas perished in this spot, where the 

 -8ca indeed breaks with great violence when the wind is 

 strong ; in the last place, others presume that it was the 

 biirying-place of the natives of the ccnnlry, and that the 

 - Vol. 21. No. 81. iV/a// 180 J. A a ^"-'H 



