74 Megalonyx Laqueatus, 



to the assaults of the waves, or a definite resistance, to an in- 

 definite power of attack. We had an opportunity three years 

 ago, of inspecting the break-water, at Plymouth, in England. 

 Its massive perpendicular walls, promised to defy the violence of 

 storms, but they soon gave way : nor was it until outward slopes, 

 or inclined planes were constructed, that the power of the waves 

 was defied. We can conceive of vessels of vast burden, fitted 

 for oceanic navigation, with abundance of room for freight and 

 fuel, where the decks shall be covered in with a perfect water- 

 shed, like the roof of a house, and the machinery be placed be- 

 low. Such vessels might be made perfectly tight against stormy 

 weather, and admit of every comfort in fine weather. 



We have ventured upon these reflections, merely to draw the 

 public attention still more to the great value of the non-bituminous 

 coals of the State of Pennsylvania. Editor. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE JAWS, TEETH, AND CLAVICLE OF 

 THE MEGALONYX LAQUEATUS. 



By Richard Harlan, M. D. 



We are indebted to our friend Dr. Harlan, for the following 

 valuable paper. Knowing the deep interest which is taken in 

 the fossil osteological remains of this continent, and especially 

 by the naturalists of Europe, we have deferred other matters for 

 the present, and have caused drawings and engravings to be 

 made of the bones described in this paper. They are entirely 

 new, these being the first jaws, and teeth, and clavicle of this 

 extinct animal, hitherto found. In order to give our readers, at 

 home and abroad, the most perfect satisfaction in our power, 

 respecting these interesting remains, we have, with the permis- 

 sion of our valuable correspondent. Dr. Harlan, added to our 

 plate, the isolated tooth of the M. Laqueatus, first described by 

 him in his paper, read March 8th, 1831, before the Academy of 

 Natural Science of Philadelphia. Editor. 



" Desirous of examining the fossil bones, now in New York, in 

 the possession of Mr. Graves, I proceeded there with my friend, 

 Mr. Norris. Amongst others, I found a bone, which I had not 

 seen before, and which is the first that has been described of this 

 animal. I presume it to have been the clavicle of a Megalonyx 



