IX 
Journal of Proceedings. 
bones, fitted for the attachment of muscles still more powerful, evoked an 
interesting exposition of the chain of reasoning which enables compara¬ 
tive anatomists to mentally reclothe the skeletons of extinct animals with 
the cestuie of life, and to speak with confidence not only of their general 
habits, but even sometimes of special incidents in their biographies. This 
gieat sloth was formed with tail and hind legs to sit tripod-like before a 
tree, and powerful enough, so sitting, to pull trees down. The shape of 
the skull and jaws showed that the tongue was long, cylindrical, powerful, 
and muscular, fitted like that of the giraffe for plucking down boughs ; 
and the size of the aperture for the nerves which induced motion in the 
tongue led him to say that this organ in the J Icgcitlierium was four times 
the size of the tongue of the giraffe in the Zoological Gardens. One 
specimen found must have been twice stunned by some falling mass which 
had fiactuied the skull, and the animal probably died from inflammation 
which set in when the second wound was partly healed. The wounds were 
so severe that the animal receiving them must have lain helpless for some 
time; therefore they were not likely to have been given by a foe, such as 
the lion of the period, who would certainly have killed a prostrate victim. 
The wounds were received at long intervals apart, and the assumption was 
that on two occasions in its life the animal had pulled trees down upon 
itself, the second accident causing a lingering and painful death. Later 
on, in the Keptilia galleries, came demonstrations of the great marine 
reptiles, the Plesiosaurus, with its 22 feet of length, and Iclitlvyosauna 
with large eyes and terrible jaws, from the Lias ; nor were the Pro¬ 
fessor’s especial favourites forgotten,—his “Dragons ” or Pterodactyles,— 
great volent lizards, some with flying-membranes, or wings, expanding 20 
feet, which ages ago may have rendered “night hideous” as they glided 
in search of prey through the moonlit air of the primeval world. 
The party had also the benefit of the presence and assistance of the 
genial Keeper of Geology, Dr. Henry Woodward, F.B.S., who did all in his 
power to render the meeting a success, and who demonstrated to a section 
of the party the late Sir Antonio Brady’s collection of Pleistocene Mam¬ 
malia from Ilford, Essex, now in the Museum ; and Professor Morris, who 
was present, also rendered valuable help in like expositions. 
A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Professor Owen on the motion 
of the Bex. "W . Linton TV ilson, and the Club then adjourned to the 
Exhibition Galleries, South Kensington Museum, where General Pitt- 
Kivers, F.B.S., conducted the party over his Anthropological collection. 
This collection is probably unique of its kind. It is a museum of primi¬ 
tive arts, arranged in accordance with the modern views of evolution. It 
exhibits, by means of selected specimens, the development from rude 
beginnings of certain arts and handicrafts, such as tools, weajions, pot¬ 
tery, musical instruments, clothing, weaving, horse-furniture, agricultural 
implements, personal ornaments, ship-builcling, ornamentation, Ac. The 
General accompanied his guests through a large portion of his museum, 
stopping before each case to give short impromptu lectures, in which 
