MAMMALIA. 503 



Genus 1. — Bradypus — Linneeus. 



Generic Character. — No incisory teeth, canines J-J, grinders 

 *-*; totalis. Canines larger than the grinders, pyramidical, 

 and pointed ; grinders cylindrical ; head small, muzzle truncated, 

 neck short ; nostrils at the extremity of the muzzle ; fore legs 

 longer than the hind ones, with two or three toes furnished with 

 strong nails ; fur thick, harsh, and long ; intestines short j no 

 caecum ; stomach membranous. 



Bradypus tridactylus. — The Three- Toed Sloth. — Plate 

 XVI. fig. 8. — Fur gray, coarse, usually spotted on the back 

 with brown or white ; all the feet with three long curved nails ; 

 soles of the feet covered with hair. Size cf a fox. Inhabits 

 South America. 



This is the type of F. Cuvier's genus Acheus. 



Genus 2.— Megatherium. — Cuvier. 

 Fossil. 



Generic Character. — No incisors or canine teeth, grinders ^-| j 

 total 16. 



Megatherium Cuvieri. — Grinders with transverse furrows on 

 their crowns. Body twelve feet long. Found fossil in Para- 

 guay, South America. 



No living species of this genus have been discovered. 



Tribe II — Effodientia, or Digging Edentata. 



Muzzle generally elongated ; with grinders only, or destitute 

 of teeth. 



Genus 3. — Dasypus. — Linneeus. 



Generic Character — No incisory teeth, or ^ ; no canines : 

 teeth varying exceedingly in the dentary formula ; some havirig 

 28, while they extend in others to G8 ; these teeth are cylindri. 

 cal and separate, without enamel on the inner side. Head long, 

 mouth and eyes small ; tongue partially extensible ; body en- 

 veloped in shelly plates, which also cover the upper part of the 

 head, and entire tail, with moveable transverse bends between 

 them ; fore feet with four to five toes, hind feet with five 

 toes ; nails long, formed for diggir.g ; tail long, round ; stomach 

 simple, intestines without a caecum. 



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