1841-42 
MEGATHERIUM AMERICANUM 
191 
its habits, having ‘ extensive air-cells introduced 
between the external and vitreous tables of the 
skull ’ — it had, in fact, a double brain-case, and 
must have often found the advantage of such a 
possession. 
‘ Certain it is that the habits of life, and the 
conditions under which the mylodon existed,’ did 
render it liable to violent blows on the head, and 
it was owing to its well-protected brain-case that 
they were not, in this instance, death blows. 
In the same memoir Owen included a paper 
on the osteology, natural affinities, and probable 
habits of the Megatheroid quadrupeds in general, 
and by the kindness of Dr. Henry Woodward I 
am able to give a figure of the Megatherium 
americanum in illustration of the group. 
‘ Jan^lary 10, 1842. — A visit from Mrs. Fry 
—or Elizabeth Fry, as the Friends call her— of 
prison celebrity. She is sister to Samuel Gurney, 
and is very like the portraits I have seen of her. 
Not at all a difficult subject to paint — large, like 
her brother, with small features and small eyes. 
She left her carriage at the front gate, walking 
up to the house without a bonnet, but with a silk 
cap carried under her costume, which was of a 
very transparent material. Her manners are 
ladylike and kind, but, I thought, mildly tolerant 
and patronising towards R. on the subject of his 
scientific work. This is not surprising, consider- 
ing how she has been fHed abroad and literally 
