124 MAMMALIAN DESCENT. [LECT. IV. 



earth, we are reminded, by way of contrast, of the poet's account of the 

 slow but sure fossilisation of the rude, forefathers of the hamlet 

 " Each in his narrow cell for ever laid." 



Seven feet of earth is enough for the biggest of these undeveloped, 

 mute, inglorious Miltons of the little lone country place. 



"When, however, the General Sexton gave the Megatherium his 

 seven feet of earth, this was merely the measurement crosswise, for 

 he was nearly that breadth across his loins with his flesh and his 

 fell on ; his length was double that and more. If time had not 

 failed me, I would have described his parts and his power, and his 

 comely proportion. I might have dilated upon his feet, to the extent 

 of filling a chapter ; the spoor which they made, being filled by 

 timely rains, made a pond in which the Axolotl might have disported, 

 and in which the largest of Frogs did, undoubtedly, take their 

 pastime. 



If the reader will visit the great Natural History Museum at 

 South Kensington, and the Hunterian Museum in Lincoln's Inn 

 Fields, and look at the remains of the fossil Sloths, he will make 

 this discovery, namely, that the writer's attempt at the rejuvenescence 

 of these beasts is dull and flat, and that not half the truth has been 

 told him. 



