OF CREATION. 361 



feet, of which the proportions, however, are much re- 

 duced in appearance, in consequence of the massive- 

 ness of the leg itself, already described. The foot is 

 five-toed ; the two outer toes were provided with 

 claw bones of great size and strength, but the whole 

 foot is short in proportion to its breadth. 



The skull of this strange monster was exceedingly 

 small and narrow, and was connected to the trunk 

 by a neck of moderate length. The whole body 

 gradually tapers forward from the enormous pelvis 

 and gigantic hind-quarters, which offer a singular 

 contrast to the short neck and slender head. These 

 singular proportions are nowhere met with amongst 

 quadrupeds, except amongst the Edentata, of which 

 the Megatherium is certainly one of the most inte- 

 resting examples. 



Let us now trace the points of analogy that exist 

 between the Megatherium, or rather the megatheroid 

 animals, including under this name the various gigan- 

 tic species of the same group at present known, and 

 the sloth, the living animal most nearly allied to them. 



The first glance at the head of the Megatherium 

 exhibits very striking resemblances to the sloth in 

 several points, some of them peculiar to the whole 

 tribe of edentates, and others indicative of the habits 

 of the animal. The general form is more elongated 

 and straighter, the length however not being due to 

 the prolongation of the jaws (which are cut off 

 shortly), but to the skull itself; and the structure 

 of the bones of the nose would seem to indicate the 

 existence of a long upper lip, or even a short pro- 

 boscis. The extreme narrowness of the palate is also 

 worthy of notice, and was, no doubt, in accordance 



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