The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-23
America Bsfsr. an. ,,,,,.-,

III IS interesting 10 consider ,bs 80.
OF this part Of Our earth at the d. .,' -.
mediately anteceden. to the iptrodno,;1- 'l,
man. Instead Of a country remsTE S.I u
for the absence Of all large ausdmnsS- :
was exactly the reverse; but tbe>e - - I
giants are now represented by small, ~
though similar species. The Pamn.s IN
perhaps. presented a condition Of ysys,,,'-'
little different from that still cbsrs9,.,;.,'"
oil them. Numerous clumps Of lors,, ~,
were dotted about at intervals, and ~ :
teIvemng country was covered for he a..
part by nch and luGurisnt vegetation :
Other trees probably fringed the mana, q,
those gigantic rivers which stiIl poS, On,
their torrents Of water and dram m;yt,-
continent. In the half swampy ,r,e,, !,
in the pools iOImed by the shifting hi. :;
these rivers, the Toxodon then dwell ~
over the broad plains the NlacrauetrT,
slowly paced. At one spot numerous -.
trunks Of trees, stripped Of their ysr5.1-
rotten ard halEdecsyed, or alive agsipv,s
the busy tread Of millions OF ants and an,
insects. mark the leafeating uibe. n.
GlyPIOdon, with his heavy tread, SLOWLY y
vances under the weight Of a thick and cum
brous coat of mail, and finally clears su.v
the hall destroyed vegetation. The smsl,.r
species Of the Megatheroid family. each orr
indeed, gian: in his way, feed On he
younger and smaller plants, tearing hen
up by the roots or reaching from the grolp5
to devOur their foliage. Bot presently he
Megatherium himself appears, ,oiling Sow.
ly on from some great tree recently lad
low and quite stripped Of its green covering.
The earth gIoans under the enormous mass
each step bears down and brushes the thck.
ly growing reeds and other plants bu. The
monster continues TO advance towards NJ.
bic tree, the monarch Of this prineyal for
est. "Eor while he pauses before IL IS #
doubling whether. having resisted the SorIns
OF so many seasons, il will yield even to
bis vast strength. But soon bis resolution
is taken. Having set himself 10 tie task,
he first lOosens the soil around the tree to
great depth by the powerful claws on bis
fore feet, and in this preliminary work be
occupies himself for while. And now o.
serve him carefully. Marching close to the
tree, watch him as he plants his mOnsuoOs
hind feet carefully aud earnestly. the long
projecting claw taking firm and deep hold
Of the ground. His tai IS 80 placed as to
rest on the ground and supper, the BODY
The hind legs are set, and the animal LII.
ing itself up like huge kangaroo, grasp
the tree with its fore legs at as gea, heigh;
as possible, and firmly graPPles it with The
muscles Of the trunk, while the Pelyis and
hind limbs, animated by the nervous Ifu-
ence Of the unusually large spinal cord,
combine all their forces in the effort a5OU.
TO be made. And now conceive the mss-
sive frame Of the Megalherium cOnyulsed
with the mighty wrestling. every vibrslng
fibre Teacting upon its bOny attachment
with the force of bundled giants. ENus-
ordinary must be the strength and proper
llOli> VI TIC ICC II WIFI lOGhCO W aiie NV
to right and left, in such an embrace, il can
long Withstand the Efforts Of its ssssilsni.
(Oscen on the MyIOdOn.) The tree at length
gives way; the animal, though shaken and
weary with the mighty effort, at once begins
to strip of every green twig. The Effort
however, even when successful, was not a.
ways without danger. The tree in ialhng
would sometimes by its weight eIust IL
powerful assailant, and the bulky animal,
unable to guide il in its fall, might Oien Dc
injured by the trunk or the larger branches
To guard against some Of this rlsk, the
skull. the mos, exposed part, IS found to eI-
hibit more than usual defence against inIuIy'
Ii is more cellular than IS usual with Other
animals, and the inner and stronger plate 5
covered with an outer table and lnIemed'-
ate walls, to resist a sudden and uOlen1
shock.-AnStedS Picturesque Sketches Of
Creation