114 FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 



study of the organic structure and mechanism of other 

 animals. The adaptation of each part of the body of the 

 Elephant, to produce extraordinary strength, and of every 

 member of the Deer and Antelope to give agility and speed 

 are too obvious to have escaped the attention of any scien- 

 tific observer; but, it has been the constant practice of 

 naturahsts, to follow Buffbn in misrepresenting the Sloths, 

 as the most imperfectly constructed among all the members 

 of the animal kingdom, as creatures incapable of enjoyment, 

 and formed only for misery. 



The Sloth does, indeed, afibrd the greatest deviations 

 from the ordinary structure of the living quadrupeds ; and 

 these have been erroneously considered as imperfections in 

 its organization, without any compensating advantage. I 

 have elsewhere* attempted to show that these anomalous 

 conditions are so far from being defects, or sources of incon- 

 venience in the Sloth, that they afford striking illustrations 

 of the varied contrivances, whereby the structure of every 

 creature is harmoniously adapted to the state in which it 

 was destined to live. The peculiarities of the Sloth, that 

 render its movements so awkward on the earth, are fitted 

 with much advantage to its destined office of hving entirely 

 upon trees, and feeding upon their leaves : so also, if we con- 

 sider the Megatherium with a view to its province of dig- 

 ging and feeding upon roots, we shall, in this habit, discover 

 the explanation of its unusual structure, and apparently in- 

 congruous proportions ; and find, in every organ, a relation 

 of obvious convenience, and of adaptation to the office it had 

 to discharge.! 



* Linncan Transactions, Vol. XVII. I'art 1. 



f Tlie remains of the Megatherium have been found chiefly in llie 

 southern regions of America, and most abundantly in Paraguay ; it ap- 

 pears also to have extended on the north of the equator as far as the 

 United States. We have for some time, possessed detailed descriptions 

 of this animal by Cuvier, Oss. Foss. vol. 5, and a series of large engrav. 

 ings, by Paader and D'AIton, taken from a nearly perftct fekeleton, sent 



