1019 



CHLAMYPHORUS. 



CHLAMYPHORUS. 



1030 



Skeleton of Chlamyphoria trvncaltis, -with the exception of the feet, which are covered 

 with the integuments. 



cave surface, ending in a curve pointing downwards. The feet 

 furnished with sesamoid bones for the insertion of the tendons of 

 the flexor muscles. 



The femur, thirteen-sixteenths of an inch long, large and strong ; 

 the length of the neck considerable ; the great trochanter elongated 

 backwards beyond the line of the articulation of the head of the 

 femur with the acetabulum, and ending in a tuberosity ; the lesser 

 trochanter directed 

 downwards ; a trochan- 

 ter projecting from the 

 outer side of the shaft 

 of the femur somewhat 

 above the middle ; the 

 condyles moderately 

 elongated transversely, 

 the outer having a crest 

 directed backwards. 

 The tibia and fibula 

 fifteen-sixteenths of an 

 inch, flattened, concave 

 inwards, firmly anchy- 

 losed at each extremity, 

 and arched in opposite 

 directions, giving an 

 appearance of great size and strength to the leg. The os calcis 

 elongated backwards, flat, and ending in a curve slightly inclined 

 upwards. Hind feet plantigrade. 



Mr. Yarrell .observed the following points of resemblance between 

 the skeleton of Chlamypliorus and that of other Mammalia : 1. 

 Beaver (Cottar Fiber), in the form and substance of some of the bones 

 of the limbs, in the flattened and dilated extremity of the tail, and 

 the elongation of the transverse processes of the lower caudal vertebrae, 

 but no further. 2. Mole (Talpa Europtfa,), in the shortness and great 

 strength of the legs, and in the articulation of the claws to the first 

 phalanges of the toes ; but in the form of the bones of the anterior 

 extremity, as well as in the compressed claws, it is perfectly different, 

 nor do the articulations of the bones, nor the arrangement of the 

 muscles, allow any of the lateral motion so conspicuous in the mole. 

 The hinder extremities of Chlamyphwus are also much more power- 

 ful. 3. Sloth (Bradyjmt tridactylia), in the form of the teeth, and in 

 the acute descending process of the zygoma, but not otherwise. 4. 

 Armadilloes (Dafypi), in the coat of mail, in the peculiar ossification 

 of the cervical vertebra;, in possessing the sesamoid bones of the feet, 

 and in the general form of the bones, except those of the pelvis ; they 

 differ however in the form and appendages of the head and in the 

 tail. 5. Orycleroptu Capentu and Myrmecophaija, julata, in some of 

 the bones. 6. Echidna and Ornithorhynckua, in the form of the first 

 bone of the sternum, and hi the bony articulations as well as the 

 dilated connecting plates of the true and false ribs. 7 and 8. Bumi- 

 nantia and Pachydermata, in the form of the lower jaw, and in other 

 points equally obvious. The unique points in its structure appear to 

 be the form of the head and the open pelvis. 



According to Dr. Harlan, the total length of the entire animal is 

 5$ inches. The shell which covers the body is of a consistence some- 

 what more dense and inflexible than sole-leather of equal thickness, 

 and is composed of a series of plates of a square, rhomboidal, or 

 cubical form, each row separated by an epidermal or membranous 

 production, which is reflected above and beneath, over the plates : 

 the rows include from 15 to 22 plates, the shell being broadest at its 

 posterior half, extending about one-half round the body. This 

 covering is loose throughout, excepting along the spine of the back 

 and top of the head, being attached to the back immediately above 

 the spine by a loose cuticular production, and by the two remarkable 

 bony processes on the top of the os frontis, by means of two large 

 , which are nearly incorporated with the bone beneath ; but 

 for this attachment the covering would be very easily detached. The 

 number of rows of plates on the back, counting from the vertex, 

 whtre they commence, is 24 ; at the twenty-fourth the shell curves 

 suddenly downwards, so as to form a right angle with the body; 

 this truncated surface is composed of plates, nearly similar to those 

 of the back ; they are disposed in semicircular rows, five in number ; 

 the lower margin, somewhat elliptical, presents a notch in its centre, 

 in which is attached the free portion of tail, which makes an abrupt 

 curvature, and runs beneath the belly parallel to the axis of the body, 

 the extremity of the tail being depressed, so as to form a paddle ; the 

 rest of the tail compressed. The superior semicircular margin of the 

 truncated surface, together with the lateral margins of the shell, are 

 beautifully fringed with silky hair. 



The posterior hah' of the head broad, anterior half, before the eyes, 

 tapering ; the occiput is covered by the first five rows of the back 

 plates with which they are continuous ; the occiput not distinguish- 

 able externally. The anterior half of the top of the head is covered, 

 firxt, by a row of large plates, five in number, which are firmly 

 attached to the bone beneath, particularly the two outer ; secondly, 

 by a smaller row, six in number, anterior to which, that is to say, the 

 top of the snout, is covered with smaller plate* irregularly disposed. 



Mr. Yarrell observes that when separating the skin from the 

 muscles of the back the fibres (described by Dr. Harlan) by which 



the outer coat was attached in the line of the vertebra; were found to 

 be adherent to the muscles immediately investing the spinous pro- 

 cesses, and each of them, Mr. Yarrell supposes, probably affords a 

 nidus for vessels nourishing the external covering ; but these attach- 

 ments did not extend below the dorsal vertebra;. Proceeding from 

 thence forwards the great size of the muscles of the scapula; and neck 

 was apparent, filling up the whole space, the back and upper portion 



of the head forming 

 one continued line. 

 The thick plate of scales 

 covering the frontal 

 portion of the head was 

 without difficulty sepa- 

 rated from the surfaces 

 of the singular bony 

 processes of the os 

 frontis ; the projecting 

 cartilaginous portion of 

 the nose was removed 

 with the skin, and 

 the tendons of several 

 muscles giving motion 

 to the snout were cut 

 through. 



The hinder portion of the body still remained to be separated from 

 the skin, and this was found to be a matter of some difficulty. The 

 posterior and inferior portions of the sacrum on each side were firmly 

 united by distinct attachments, differing in form, to certain scales of 

 the truncated e'xtremity of the outer covering. 



The necessity of preserving this outer covering entire rendered a 

 division of these portions of bone necessary, and from the particular 

 form of the part this was attended with some hazard, but was ulti- 

 mately accomplished without injury, the bones being cut through as 



Chlamyphorus trnncatut. 



Truncated extremity and tail. 



near to and as parallel with the inner surface of the plates as their 

 confined situation would admit. The covering of the tail was sepa- 

 rated from the vertebra; as far as the flattened extremity, where the 

 greater elongation of the transverse processes of the last four vertebra) 

 and the tenuity of this flattened portion made further separation 



