FAMILY GRAVIGRADA ; MEGATHERIUM. 



277 



Mylodon in structure and habits ; and several remains of it 

 have been found in different parts of South America. Its name 

 indicates its enormous bulk, which may be judged of from the 

 following statement of its dimensions. Its length, when full 

 grown, must have been 14 feet, including the tail ; and its height 

 upwards of 8 feet. Its thigh-bone was twice the thickness of 

 that of the largest Elephant ; its fore-foot measured more than a 

 yard in length by twelve inches in width, and the toes were 



terminated by en- 

 ormous claws; and 

 the width of the 

 upper part of the 

 tail could not have 

 been less than two 

 feet. With the re- 

 mains of the Me- 

 gatherium have 

 been not unfre- 

 quently found as- 

 sociated the relics 

 of a bony armour, 

 resembling that of 

 the Armadillo ; 

 and it has been 

 supposed that 

 these belonged to 

 it. But it is now 

 known that they 

 formed the cover- 

 ing of a gigantic 

 animal of the 

 Armadillo kind, 

 which will be 

 presently noticed. 

 The genus Mega- 

 lonyx (or animal 

 with a large claw) is founded on some remains which have been 



FIG. 140. FOOT OK MEGATHERIUM. 



