1 9 o EXTINCT MONSTERS. 



The tessellated carapace of the Glyptodon was at first thought 

 to belong to the Megatherium, with which the remains were 

 associated, but Professor Owen clearly demonstrated the im- 

 possibility of this idea. 



Fig. 51 represents Glyptodon clavipes (Owen) from the Pleisto- 

 cene deposits of Buenos Ayres ; but the reader will gain a much 

 better idea of the animal by inspecting the splendid specimen of 

 Glyptodon asper in the Natural History Museum, near the centre 

 window at the east end of the Pavilion (Glass-case Q on plan). 



Plate XIX. is a restoration of another species by our artist. 1 



In the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons (which the 

 reader is recommended to visit) there are several most valuable 

 specimens of these extinct armadillos from South America. 



Armadillos belong, with sloths and ant-eaters, to the same 



FIG. 51. Extinct Gigantic Armadillo, Glyptodon clavipes t from Pleistocene 

 deposits, Buenos Ayres. (The tail sheath here represented probably 

 belongs to another genus, Hoplophorus.) 



family of so-called toothless animals (edentata) with no front 

 teeth, though one or two forms really are toothless. Those of the 

 present day have their bony armour divided up into a series of 

 bands, so that they can roll themselves up, more or less, into 

 balls. They burrow under the ground, where they get their food 

 to a certain extent, and live a safe life, protected by their casque 



1 This plate is based on a beautiful drawing in a Spanish work, Anales del 

 Museo publico Buenos Aires. G. Burmeister, M.D., Phil.D. Tomo Segundo. 



