1850-51 THE MEGATHERIUM 351 



CHAPTER XI 



1850-51 



The Megatherium — Preparations for the Great Exhibition of 

 185 1 — The Smithfield Commission — Additions to the Zoological 

 Gardens — Juror of awards at the Exhibition — Visit to Paris at 

 the Invitation of the President of the French Republic — Article 

 on Lyell's Works in the Quarterly Review, October 185 1 — The 

 Copley Gold Medal — ' Chevalier de l'Ordre Royal pour le 

 Merite'— Sheen Lodge, 185 1. 



In 1850 Woodbine Parish sent home from Buenos 

 Ayres the remains of a gigantic extinct mammal, 

 more nearly allied to the ant-eaters and sloths 

 than to the armadillos. The Megatherium, as it 

 has been named, had already been described by 

 Cuvier and Mr. Clift ; but this new specimen 

 afforded Owen the opportunity of writing his 

 famous paper on the subject which appeared in 

 the ' Philosophical Transactions.' 



Early in the year Dr. Gideon Mantell wrote 

 to him cautioning him against overtaxing his 

 mental powers. In this letter Dr. Mantell says : 

 ' I once possessed as much mental energy as most 

 men, but by overwork I now feel fit for nothing. 



