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which the nails are very unequal. In the other bones of this finger, 
a perfect accordance is observable ; and still further evidence appears 
of the animal having been of the nature which had been supposed 
from the appearance of the ungual bone. 
A puzzling circumstance occurred with respect to a metacarpal 
bone, answering to the ring-finger, which appeared to be half as long 
again as the metacarpal bone of the next, the middle finger. The 
explanation of this singularity appeared to be truly difficult. In the 
sloths, heteroclites as they are in other respects, nothing similar 
appeared. In the engraving of the skeleton of the megatherium, the 
same peculiarity was, however, found to be depicted. 
It therefore now appeared not to be an accidental or monstrous 
conformation, and consequently something analogous might be ex- 
pected to be found among the living animals. This indeed was found 
to be the case. In the Myrmecophaga jubcita, one of the family of 
ant-eaters, the metatarsal of the middle finger is more thick and short 
than all the others ; that of the index is a little longer and thinner, 
and that of the ring and of the little finger much more so. 
From a pit on the outside of the metacarpal bone of the index, 
there appears reason for believing that a metacarpal bone of the 
thumb had existed in this animal. In the fore-foot of the megalonix, 
therefore, there would have been two complete fingers, the index and 
the middle fingers : and besides these, the vestiges, at least, of three 
more. But one of these three, at least, was more than a vestige, 
since there was a third ungual bone, which in all probability was that 
of the annulare. 
The examination of the radius and of the ulna gave reason for 
concluding that they also had belonged to an animal of the sloth kind, 
and appeared perfectly to accord with the preceding bones of the 
fore -foot. 
From the information yielded by the examination of the preceding 
bones, no doubt could exist of their having belonged to an animal 
