MEGATHERIUM. 
153 
instuiment to be employed continually in digging 
ood out of the ground ; 2°. this act of perpetual 
igging in search of stationary objects like roots, 
squired but little locomotive power ; 3”. the com- 
lar^ively small support afforded to the weight 
t e body by the fore leg, was compensated 
y the extraordinary and colossal strength of 
e haunches and hind legs. In the Elephant, 
e great weight of the head and tusks require 
shortness of neck, and unusual enlargement and 
strength in the fore legs; hence, the anterior 
parts of this animal are much stronger and larger 
than Its hinder parts. In the case of the Mega- 
therium, the relative proportions are reversed • 
he head is comparatively small, the neck 
'‘"terior part of the body but 
and comparison with its abdominal 
and coif T ^^«^^^der blade 
and collar bone there is great provision to give 
strength and motion to the fore legs; but Ls 
motion is not progressive, nor is the strength 
y- The humerus, (k) articulates with the 
capula by a round head, admitting of free 
motion in various directions, and is small at its 
Pier and middle part, but at its lower end 
^ttams extraordinary breadth, in consequence 
. enormous expansion of the crests, which 
^ise from the condyles, to give origin to 
luscles for the movement of the fore foot and 
