1380 



THE EDENTATES 



agreed with the sloths in having large and complete collar bones; but, as we infer 

 from the conformation of the lower jaw, they approximated to the ant-eaters in the 

 elongation of their tongues. The majority of the ground-sloths were South Ameri- 

 can; but one species of megathere ranged into North America, while an allied genus, 

 Megalonyx, was apparently exclusively North American. 



That the ground-sloths were herbivorous is evident from the structure of their 

 teeth; while it is obvious that creatures which must have weighed several tons when 

 in the flesh could not have been climbers. Their bodies were probably clothed with 



coarse hair somewhat like that 

 of the ant-eater; but there is 

 evidence that the mylodon had 

 also a number of small bony 

 plates embedded in its skin. 

 From the enormous width and 

 massiveness of the pelvis of the 

 ground-sloths, coupled with the 

 extraordinary size of the bones 

 of the tail, it is probable that 

 these creatures were in the 

 habit of procuring their food by 

 supporting themselves on the 

 tripod formed by their hind- 

 limbs and tail, and rearing their 



bodies against the trunks of trees, from which the boughs were then dragged down 

 by the powerful arms. Possibly, however, the megathere, as suggested by the late 

 Professor Parker, may in some cases have bodily uprooted trees, by first digging a 

 hole at their roots with its powerful front claws, and then grasping the trunk with 

 its arms, and swaying it to and fro till it fell with a crash. It may be added that 

 the ground-sloths resembled the ant-eaters and sloths in walking on the outer sides 

 of their enormous fore-feet; but they differed from the latter in also applying only 

 the outer side of the hind-feet to the ground. All these gigantic forms lived during 

 the Pleistocene period; but in the lower Tertiaries of Patagonia they are represented 

 by the much smaller Eucholceops, in which the skull was only some five inches in 

 length; the teeth resembling those of the megathere. 



PALATAL VIEW OF SKULL OF EXTINCT GROUND- 

 SLOTH (MYLODON). 

 (After Owen.) 



THE ANT-EATERS 

 Family MTRME C OP HA GIDsE 



The ant-eaters, or, as they are often called, ant-bears, differ so widely in ap- 

 pearance and structure from the sloths that it is difficult to believe at first sight in 

 their close relationship; indeed, had it not been for the fortunate preservation of the 

 remains of the ground-sloths, it may be questioned whether even zoologists would 

 have fully understood the alliance of the two. As it is, we have an excellent 



