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Show 1900.] GftYPOTHERIUM (NEOMYLODON) LISTAI. 65 discovery is thus unique in the history of palaeontology, on account of the remarkably fresh state of preservation of all the remains. Some of the new specimens exhibit no indication whatever of having been buried. Many of the bones retain their original whitish colour, apparently without any loss of gelatine ; while both these and other bones, which have evidently been entombed in brownish dust, bear numerous remnants not only of the dried periosteum, but also of shrivelled muscles, ligaments, and cartilages. Very few of the bones are fossilized, in the ordinary sense of the term. A n admirable brief description of this collection has already been published (op. cit.) by Dr. Eoth, w ho was the first to recognize the generic identity of Neomylodon with Grypotherium. Some of the specimens, however, are worthy of a more detailed examination ; and Dr. Moreno has kindly entrusted thetn to m e for study in connection with the collections in the British Museum and the Eoyal College of Surgeons. The following notes, supplementing Dr. Roth's original memoir, are the result of this further investigation. I. REMAINS OF GRYPOTHEBIUM LISTAI. Number of Individuals. Among the fragmentary bones of the Ground-Sloth, it is easy to recognize evidence of three individuals, w hich do not differ much in size. There are three distinct examples of the occiput (nos. 1, 2, 3), and fragments of the dentigerous portion of three mandibles. It is also noteworthy that the three malar bones preserved (no. 8) are all different in shape, while three corresponding fragments of the acromial process of the scapula differ in size. One portion of maxilla (no. 5) seems to represent a fourth individual, being probably too small for either of the skulls to which the occiputs belong. Finally, as Dr. Roth has pointed out, one shaft of a humerus (no. 22), which appears to be the bone of an adult, belongs to a much smaller animal than is indicated by any other specimen in the collection. Remains of three individuals are thus recognizable with certainty; two others can probably be distinguished ; while some of the fragments may even belong to a sixth specimen. It must also be noted that other portions of jaws are said to have been discovered by E. Nordenskjold \ Skull and Mandible. The largest portion of cranium (no. 1) is not stained in any way, and does not retain a trace of the material in which it was buried in any hollow or crevice. It is shown of nearly one-half the natural size, from the right lateral and inferior aspects, in the drawing (PI. V. figs. 1,1 a). It does not appear to have been damaged during 1 R. Hauthal, op. cit. p. 4. PEOO. ZOOL. SOC-1900, No. V. 5 |
