1837-38 
DISSECTING A RHINOCEROS 
I2I 
remains of an extinct animal related to the llama. 
He also described the scelidotherium, which is 
related to the ant-eaters ; and further determined 
some disputed points in existing accounts of the 
skeleton of the megatherium — a gigantic extinct 
sloth about the size of an elephant. We also find 
from the Diary that Darwin submitted the proofs 
of the ‘Voyage’ jtself to Owen. 
But while occupied in describing fossil remains 
he varied his occupation by dissecting the mortal 
remains of a rhinoceros which had recently died 
at Wombwell’s Menagerie. This he looked upon 
as a great prize, as a rhinoceros then — dead or 
living — was a rarity in England. On hebruary i, 
Owen had the carcase brought to his house in the 
College of Surgeons, to his wife’s disgust, who 
thus comments upon it : — ‘ The defunct rhinoceros 
(late of Wombwell’s Menagerie) arrived while R. 
was out. I told the men to take it right to the end 
of the long passage, where it now lies. As yet 1 
feel indifferent, but when the pie is opened ’ 
‘ Febritary 6. — R. still at the rhinoceros.’ 
In February the ‘ Wollaston ’ Gold Medal of 
the Geological Society was awarded to Owen, 
and he thus remarks on it in a letter to his sister 
Eliza (February 28) : ‘ My first number of Dar- 
win’s “ Fossils ” (strange animals) is out, and most 
unexpectedly the Geological Society has awarded 
me the Wollaston Gold Medal for that and other 
services to geology. Is it not curious that 
