368 PICTURESQUE SKETCHES 



trivance is carried yet further, and by its means the 

 animal is greatly aided in digging up the large solid 

 nests of the white ant. The bones articulated to 

 the large termination of the shoulder-bone corre- 

 spond well in magnitude and strength. The one is 

 broad, powerful at its upper end, and short, and the 

 other revolves freely upon it, giving that motion of 

 the fore extremity by which man is able to move his 

 hand on either side by a simple motion of the wrist. 



The entire fore-foot must have been a yard long 

 and twelve inches wide. It was provided with five 

 toes, three of which were conspicuous for their large 

 proportionate size, and were armed with long and 

 and powerful claws. The other toes did not appear 

 outside the foot, being only rudimentary. 



The account which I have given of the skeleton 

 of the Megatherium requires but little modification 

 when we turn to the other smaller animals of the 

 same kind living at the same time, and found in the 

 same locality. 



The Mylodon, the one best known, was smaller 

 than the megathere, its trunk being shorter than 

 that of the hippopotamus, although the pelvis and 

 the bones of the extremities were greater than the 

 corresponding parts in the largest elephant. The 

 chief differences that exist between this genus and 

 the more gigantic one already described, are seen 

 in the nearer approximation to the sloth exhibited in 

 the form of the skull, and several modifications of 

 little importance that characterise the teeth. The 

 fore extremities, also, were terminated by only two 

 instead of three-clawed toes, but in all important 

 points the animal was the same. 



