From Edward Lumb to J. S. Henslow   2 May 1834

Bs. Ayres

May 2d 18/34

Sir

I beg to enclose you bill of lading for a Case of Specimens of Natural History which by direction of Mr Charles Darwin I forward to you pr. Brig “Basenthwaite” Mitchinson Martin for Liverpool— This Case contains part of the Head of the “Megatherium”—1 I regret that on the passage down the River it should have been broken; previous to this accident the Snout or nose extended 112 to two feet more than at present— These are not the bones referred to in the accompanying Letter—2 I expect them down shortly when I shall feel proud in forwarding them to you— Permit me this opportunity of offering my Services to you & to assure you that I shall feel highly gratified if by any Information, or Specimens I can obtain in this Country I can contribute to the advancement of Science in my native land—

My last letter from Mr. Darwin was from the Falkland Islands 30 March; at which time all was well— | I have the honour to be Sir | Your most obt Sert| Edward Lumb

The cranium was described by Richard Owen in Fossil Mammalia, pp. 16–35, as that of a ‘gigantic extinct mammiferous animal, referrible to the Order Pachydermata, but with affinities to the Rodentia, Edentata, and Herbivorous Cetacea’. Owen named it Toxodon platensis.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-244,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-244