MEGATHERIUM. 141 
rpu 
e animal 1 shall select for my present pur- 
l^se is that most extraordinary fossil creature, the 
egatherium, (see PI. 5), an animal, in some parts 
l^l^its organization, nearly allied to the Sloth, and, 
of ting an apparent monstrosity 
no fonn, accompanied by many strange 
hidT f structure, which have 
iitherto been but little understood. 
tiorTo^tr^'" ^ remarkable excep- 
lon o the conclusions which naturalists hav^e 
usually drawn, from their study of the organic 
ructure and mechanism of other animals. ^The 
adaptation of each part of the body of the Ele- 
P lant, to produce extraordinary strength and of 
-ry of .„e Deer an/A„feC’ to give 
, scientific observer : but it 
folLw^Buffi!^ constant practice of naturalists, to 
Buffon m misrepresenting the Sloths as 
iurb::i 7:“^ 
incapable of k‘«gdoin, as creatures 
i^icapable of enjoyment, and formed only for 
devi77? 8^'eatest 
deviations from the ordinary structure of living 
2onstder7' these, liave been erroneously 
without "“P'^^fcctions in its organization, 
elscwh 7 ‘''’'''P''"®^ting advantage. I have 
elsewhere* attempted to show that these ano- 
Lmnean Transactions, Vol. XVII, Part 1 
