406 



the lower ones at the sides. The teeth are most simple in their construc- 

 tion ; being a cylinder of bone, surrounded by an envelope of enamel, 

 and hollowed at each end; at the outer end by detitrion, and at the 

 inner by defect of ossification. The enamel not entering into the body 

 of the tooth, and the laminae of osseous matter being ill connected, and 

 consequently not firm, mastication must have been very imperfect. 



The zygomatic arch would distinguish these animals from all others. 

 The zygomatic apophysis of the temporal bone does not join that of the 

 jugal malar, a considerable space existing between them ; they both being 

 disposed in such a direction, as never would allow them to unite. But 

 a circumstance still more extraordinary is, that from the inferior edge of 

 the zygomatic apophysis of the os jugale, a long apophysis descends 

 obliquely, almost, to the lower edge of the under jaw. 



In the above digressive sketch, the more striking peculiarities in the 

 bones of these animals are only noticed, as that will prove sufficient to 

 allow of judging of the degree of affinity between them and the fossil re- 

 mains, to the examination of which we shall now proceed. 



The substratum in the Western part of Virginia, beyond the blue 

 ridge, is a lime-stone, abounding with large caverns, the earthy floors 

 of which are impregnated with nitre. In digging the floor of one 

 of these caves, in the county of Green-briar, the labourers, at the 

 depth of two or three feet, came to some bones, belonging to some 

 animal which was to them unknown. The bones were, 1. A frag- 

 ment of a femur, the two condyles being nearly entire ; 2. A radius, 

 perfect; 3. An ulna, broken in two; 4. Three claws, and half a do- 

 zen other bones of the feet. Mr. Jefferson, to whom we are obliged 

 for the account of these curious remains, considered himself as not pos- 

 sessed of sufficient data to allow him to approximate these remains nearer 

 to any existing animal, than by considering it as one of the unguiculated 

 quadrupeds. Assuming, then, the lion, as the largest of the quadrupeds 

 of this family, he considered it as the fittest animal with the bones of 

 which he might compare the bones of the megalonyx. But so large is 



