44 COMPARISONS OF STRUCTURE m ANIMALS. 



into the minuti^ of osteological details, but 

 merely observe, tliat, in comparison with the 

 massive bones of the Hmbs of these animals, 

 those of the elephant are slender and puny. 

 The claws, as the size of the terminal joint of 

 the toes and iis characters indicate, must have 

 been enormous ; and, as is proved by the 

 volume of the haunch-bone, the strength and 

 thickness of the short tail, and the form of the 

 bones of the hinder limbs, that the animals 

 could rest supported on them as on a tripod, 

 while they applied their enormous powers to 

 the trunk of the tree destined to be laid pros- 

 trate. Thus did these terrestrial sloths of 

 giant bulk obtain their leafy food. With slow 

 and heavy pace, treading on the outer side of 

 the foot, (of which the external toes were en- 

 cased in hoofs, the others fui-nished with tre- 

 mendous claws,) did the mylodon traverse the 

 forest, much after the manner of the great ant- 

 eater, the claws doubled against the palm ; but 

 instead of seeking for the mounds of the term- 

 ite-ants, which the latter animal tears open 

 with astonishing force, it roamed in search of 

 some tree, capable, perhaps, for several days, of 

 affording it an abundant supply. After a rigid 

 analysis of the framework of these gigantic 



