ROOM VI. 



MEGATHERIUM. 



479 



right arm clasping a tree, is of course hypothetical ; and the position of the 

 hinder toes and feet does not appear to be natural ; altogether, however, 

 the construction is highly satisfactory, and a better idea of the colossal 

 proportions of the original is conveyed by this model, than could other- 

 wise have been obtained. The skull of this creature is short and trun- 

 cated, and the zygomatic bone sends off a large descending apophysis 

 which is a remarkable peculiarity. The molar teeth, of which there are five 

 on each side the upper jaw, and four in the lower, are hollow prismatic 

 cylinders, straight, and from seven to nine inches long, and implanted 

 the greater part of their length in deep sockets ; there are no other 

 teeth, and the crowns of the molars are so constructed as always to 

 present two cutting, cuneiform, salient angles, in consequence of the 

 mutual adaptation of the corresponding surfaces of the upper and lower 

 series. The feet are nearly equal ; the entire fore-foot is about a yard 

 in length. The outer toes are destitute of nails, the others have unequal 

 phalanges, the median being the longest and largest. The pelvis is of 

 enormous dimensions, and very solid ; the iliac bones are at right angles 

 with the spine, and extremely rugous ; their margins form two projecting 

 branches, measuring 4J feet across, a dimension exceeding that of the 

 same parts in any living terrestrial mammalian. 



The most remarkable character of this portion of the skeleton is that 

 the cotyloid cavity is directed entirely downwards, so that the femur 

 supports the body without any obliquity ; a structure that must have 

 contributed to the solidity and strength of the hinder part of the body. 

 The femur is three times as thick as that of the largest Elephant, and 

 its length scarcely twice that of the breadth. The tail is very thick and 

 strong; there is a fine series of caudal vertebrae in Upright-Case 4. 



LIGX. 113. RESTORED OUTLINE OF THE MEGATHERIUM GIGANTEUH. 

 (The original 12 feet in length.) 



From the osteological characters thus cursorily noticed, it is obvious 

 that the Megatherium was a bulky and powerful creature, presenting in 

 its general form the outline given in Lign. 113. The structure of the 

 teeth is analogous to that of the Sloths, and indicates the food of the 



