138 MIGHTY ANIMALS 



to this protection against the attacks of enemies 

 the Mylodons were covered all over with small 

 bones that were sunk deep into the skin. About 

 the only creature then living in America which 

 could bite through this skin was the saber-toothed 

 cat. We are told that when one of these cats 

 attacked a Mylodon, he jumped- on its back and 

 sank his teeth deeper and deeper into the sloth's 

 neck until the arteries were severed. Then down 

 would go the big Mylodon, a victim to a creature 

 smaller but more vicious than itself. 



But, although the Mylodons were not as good 

 fighters as were the saber-toothed cats, they long 

 outlived them. It has. been proved beyond all 

 question that the Mylodons were living after man 

 appeared on this continent. In a cavern in Pata- 

 gonia Mylodon bones have been found with the 

 bones of men. And with these Mylodon skeletons 

 were large pieces of skin covered with greenish 

 brown hair. Some scientists believe that the Pata- 

 gonian Indians kept the Mylodons in captivity, 

 feeding them hay, and then killing them when they 

 wanted to eat the flesh. 



