. The animal kingdom : arranged after its organization; forming a natural history of animals, and an introduction to comparative anatomy. Zoology. U'J Div. 1. VERTEBEATE ANIMALS.—MAMMALIA. Clasis 1. There have been discovered in America the fossil skeletons of two animals belonging to the order Edentata [and lately another not yet named], of enormous dimensions: the first of them, the Meffa- therium, has a head very similar to that of a Sloth, but without canines, and approximating in the rest of its skeleton partly to the Sloths, and partly to the Ant-eaters, [most of all, however, to the min
. The animal kingdom : arranged after its organization; forming a natural history of animals, and an introduction to comparative anatomy. Zoology. U'J Div. 1. VERTEBEATE ANIMALS.—MAMMALIA. Clasis 1. There have been discovered in America the fossil skeletons of two animals belonging to the order Edentata [and lately another not yet named], of enormous dimensions: the first of them, the Meffa- therium, has a head very similar to that of a Sloth, but without canines, and approximating in the rest of its skeleton partly to the Sloths, and partly to the Ant-eaters, [most of all, however, to the minute Chlamyphorm, having even been covered by a simOar massive buckler]. It is twelve feet long, and six or seven high. The other, the Megalonyx, is rather less : its toes are the only parts that are well known, and they strongly resemble those of the other. Tlie second tribe, comprehending The Ordinary Edentata,— Have the muzzle pointed. They have still molar teeth, and are divisible into two genera. The Armadillos (Dasypus, Lin.)— Are very remarkable among the Mammalia, for the scaly and hard [bony] shell, composed of pave- ment-like compartments, which covers their head and body, and often the tail. This substance forms a shield upon then- forehead, another larger and more convex on the shoulders, a third on the crupper similar to the preceding, and between the two latter several parallel and moveable bands, vyhich allow the body to bend. The tail is sometimes furnished with successive rings; and at others, with varied tubercles, like the legs. These animals have [generally] large ears, and also great claws, either five or four anteriorly, and always five to their hind-feet; a some- what pointed muzzle; cylindrical grinding teeth separated from each other, to the num- ber of seven or eight on each side of both jaws, and without enamel on the inside; a soft tongue, but little extensible; and there are a few scattered hairs between their scales, or on those parts of the b
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