124 Megatherium of Georgia. 



larger than an ox, which is conjectured to have been the size 

 of this quadruped of Virginia, could be furnished with thigh 

 bones of such disproportionate bigness. Indeed, they would 

 seem calculated to encumber rather than support even the.Me- 

 gatherium, whose size is supposed by M. Cuvier to have 

 equalled that of the Rhinoceros. 



The other fragments being small and much broken, nothing 

 satisfactory could be determined with respect to them. 



My inquiries have not, as yet, enabled me to give any very 

 precise information respecting the locality of these bones, or the 

 character of the formation in which they were found. Their 

 appearance, however, indicates that they have been overflowed 

 by the sea ; and they seem to have had one side imbedded in 

 the earth or mud, while the other was washed by the salt wa- 

 ter. They are thinly incrusted in some places with Flustrce and 

 other zoophytes, and have recent shells of the genera Balanus, 

 Ostrea and others, adhering to them. All are remarkably 

 hard and heavy, and of a deep black colour. They do not re- 

 tain any part of their animal matter. 



Drs. Waring and Habersham state that these bones are 

 still to be procured in great quantity, by some labour and ex- 

 pense at the same place. They add, that bones of the same kind 

 may be obtained at two other places, one called Whitebluff, 

 is said to be also on the seacoast ; the other at some distance up 

 the Savannah river. We may hope, through the zeal and ex- 

 ertions of the same gentlemen, to whom the scientific public 

 generally is so much indebted for the preservation of the re- 

 mains which have formed the subject of these remarks, to have 

 these interesting deposites further explored ; and in a manner 

 worthy of the great questions, which a proper examination o( 

 their contents would contribute so much to elucidate. 



