Mr. Clift on the Mes;atheriu7Ji. 439 



From the latter circumstance^ some naturalists had been induced to believe 

 that the remains of the Megatherium were so exceedingly rare as to render 

 further inquiry almost hopeless,, until the laudable and enterprising zeal of 

 Mr. Parish dispelled this disheartening illusion^ by teaching us that oppor- 

 tunities not unfrequently occur^ if proper advantage be taken of them. 



It will be manifest^ by the following enumeration of the parts of the ske- 

 leton of this stupendous quadruped, sent by Mr. Parish, that although it is, 

 on the whole, much less complete than the specimen preserved in the Royal 

 Museum at Madrid, yet that there are, fortunately, many parts in the present 

 which are deficient in that specimen ; and, consequently, the history of this 

 interesting- animal will receive considerable and important additions from the 

 remains which that gentleman has, at so much labour and expense, succeeded 

 in introducing, for the first time, to this country*. 



These remains include. 



The anterior part of tlie cranium. 



Nine teeth, more or less perfect, but none quite entire. 



Part of tlic OS hyotdes f. 



The atlas, and another cervical vertebra entire ; with fragments of the dentata, and others. 



Two entire dorsal vertebra?, and portions of thirteen other true vertebras, of which three appear 



to be lumbar. 

 The sacrum and pelvis entire with the exception of the right ilium, which was probably broken 



off in raising the pelvis from the bed of the river. — The jmbis and iscli'ia beautifully jjerfect. 

 Twelve or more of the caudal vertehrce, and ten of the separate chevron hones belonging to them. 

 Twelve ribs of the left side, including the first ; and 



Eleven ribs of the right side, more or less perfect ; with some smaller portions of ribs. 

 Two of the bony or pseudo-cartilaginous pieces, which unite the true ribs to the sternum: as is the 



case also in the Armadillo. 

 The manubrium or first bone, with two other bones of the sternum. 



Of the anterior extremities there only remain : 



The right scapula, entire, and part of the left. 



The left clavicle. 



The left radius. 



The OS naviculare, and five other bones of the carpus and metacarpus. 



One middle phalanx, and 



Four terminal phalanges, which support the claws. 



nate in a film-like edge surrounding the square cavity which contained the vascular pulp on which 

 each tooth was formed ; and that there are four teeth on each side the jaw, as stated by M. Cuvier. 

 — W. C, 1835. 



* Plate XLIV shows at one view the comparative state of the two skeletons, and the deficiencies 

 in the one which are supplied by the other. 



f The remains printed in Italics in the subjoined list are wanting in the Madrid skeleton. 



3 L 2 



