MEGATHERIUM. l6'3 



ing. The shoulder-blade is much broader than 

 long. The clavicles are perfect, and the two bones 

 of the fore-arm are distinct and moveable upon 

 each other. The fore limbs are longer than the 

 hind. To judge by the form of the last pha- 

 lanxes, there must have been very large pointed 

 claws, enclosed at their origin in a long sheath. 

 There appears to have been only three of these 

 claws on the fore feet, and a single one on the 

 hind. The other toes seem to have been deprived 

 of them, and, perhaps, entirely concealed beneath 

 the skin. 



" The head is the greatest singularity of this 

 skeleton. The occiput is elongated and flattened.* 

 but it is pretty convex above the eyes. The two 

 jaws form a considerable projection, but without 

 teeth, there being only four on each side above 

 and below, all grinders, with a flat crown, and 

 grooved across. The breadth of the branches of 

 the lower jaw, and the great apophysis placed on 

 the base of the zygomatic arch, deserve particular 

 notice. 



" This quadruped, in its characters, taken toge- 

 ther, differs from all known animals ; and each of 

 its bones, considered apart, also differs from the 

 corresponding bones of all known animals. This 

 results from a detailed comparison of the skeleton 

 with that of other animals, and will readily appear 

 to those who are conversant in such researches; 

 for none of the animals which approach it in 

 bulk have either pointed claws, or similarly formed 

 head, shoulder-blades, clavicles, pelvis, or limbs. 



