[33]. Speaking of this tooth, Cuvier observes, “Je l’avois cru d’abord nécessairement de paresseux; mais aujourdhui que je connois mieux l’ostéologie des divers tatous, je trouve qu’elle ressemble au moins autant à une dent de l’un des grands tatous.”—Loc. cit. p. 172.
[34]. Synopsis Mammalium.
[35]. It is most probable that the substance which is here termed “enamel,” is similar to that which forms the dense prominent ridges in the tooth of the Megatherium, and which I have shown to be composed of minute parallel calcigerous tubes, similar to the ivory or bone of the human tooth.
[36]. Medical and Physical Researches, pp. 323–4.
[37]. Loc cit. p. 330.
[38]. Spix and Martius, Reise in Brazil, Band ii. p. 5.
[39]. Harlan’s Medical and Physical Researches, 1835, p. 334. M. de Blainville speaks of a cast of a fragment of a lower jaw “portant encore cinq dents en série;” as having been transmitted to the Museum of the Garden of Plants from North America, together with other bones, all of which he refers to the genus Megalonyx; M. de Blainville does not describe these teeth, which is to be regretted, inasmuch as, if he be correct in regard to their number, which can hardly be doubted, and if he wrote with any clear and definite ideas of the generic characters of Megalonyx, this would indicate that Megalonyx differed generically both from Megatherium and Mylodon in a more important dental character than has hitherto been suspected (See “Comptes Rendus, &c.” 1839, No. V. p. 142.)
[40]. Dr. Harlan also indicates differences in certain parts of the skeleton of the New York fossils as compared with his Megx. laqueatus; but thinks them probably due to a difference in the age of the individuals: he says “There is also in Mr. Graves’ collection, in New York, a tibia, nearly perfect from the right leg; the segment of a flattened sphere, on which the external condyle of the femur moves, is rather more depressed, than in the specimen from Big-bone-cave. Other marks and peculiarities are observable on this bone, not found on that of the Megalonyx laqueatus of Big-bone-cave, but they are probably due to a difference in the age of the individuals.” Loc. cit. p. 335.
[41]. Μυλη, mola; οδους, dens.
[42]. If the lower jaw of Mylodon Harlani, bears the same proportion to its teeth as does that of Mylodon Darwinii, it must be about two feet in length.