AGE OF MAMMALS. 



299 



Fig. 175. 



resented in the figure, supporting itself on its two hind 

 legs and its massive tail, as on a tripod. As it had pow- 

 erful claws, it undoubtedly sometimes dug up the earth 

 around trees preparatory to uprooting them. The ani- 

 mal was of about the size of a rhinoceros or hippopota- 

 mus. Its skull has two plates of bone with cells between 

 them, as is the case with the skull of man ; but in the 

 mylodon the cellular portion is very large, separating the 

 plates of bone considerably. The reason of this undoubt- 

 edly is, that the animal, in tearing down trees, was very 

 liable to have them fall down upon his pate, as his un- 

 wieldy form prevented any thing like nimble efforts in 

 getting out of harm's way. If in such an accident the 

 skull were fractured, the break would not be apt to ex- 



