68 LECTURE II. 



fossil skeleton of a very large quadruped, dug up 

 a few years ago in South America, and preserved 

 in the Museum at Madrid. It has been described 

 under the title of Megatherium, and differs, ac- 

 cording to Cuvier, in its characters, taken together, 

 from all known quadrupeds; and each of its bones, 

 considered apart, also differs from the correspond- 

 ing bones of all known animals; but it appears 

 more nearly allied to the Sloths than to any other 

 of the Mammalia. The skeleton measures near 

 twelve feet in length^ and six in height. 



