18591863] OWEN 203 



about Bentham and the orchids and species. But I must Letter 139 

 enquire. 



By the way, one of my chief enemies (the sole one who 

 has annoyed me), namely Owen, I hear has been lecturing 

 on birds ; and admits that all have descended from one, and 

 advances as his own idea that the oceanic wingless birds have 

 lost their wings by gradual disuse. He never alludes to me, 

 or only with bitter sneers, and coupled with Buffon and the 

 Vestiges. 



Well, it has been an amusement to me this first evening, 

 scribbling as egotistically as usual about myself and my 

 doings ; so you must forgive me, as I know well your kind 

 heart will do. I have managed to skim the newspaper, but 

 had not heart to read all the bloody details. Good God ! 

 what will the end be ? Perhaps we are too despondent here ; 

 but I must think you are too hopeful on your side of the 

 water. I never believed the " canards " of the army of the 

 Potomac having capitulated. My good dear wife and self 

 are come to wish for peace at any price. Good night, my 

 good friend. I will scribble on no more. 



One more word. I should like to hear what you think 

 about what I say in the last chapter of the orchid book on the 

 meaning and cause of the endless diversity of means for the 

 same general purpose. It bears on design, that endless 

 question. Good night, good night ! 



To C. Lyell. Letter 140 



i, Carlton Terrace, Southampton, Aug. 22nd [1862]. 



You say that the Bishop and Owen will be down on you l : 

 the latter hardly can, for I was assured that Owen, in his 

 lectures this spring, advanced as a new idea that wingless 

 birds had lost their wings by disuse. 2 Also that magpies 

 stole spoons, etc., from a remnant of some instinct like that 

 of the bower-bird, which ornaments its playing passage with 

 pretty feathers. Indeed, I am told that he hinted plainly that 

 all birds are descended from one. What an unblushing man 

 he must be to lecture thus after abusing me so, and never to 

 have openly retracted, or alluded to my book ! 



1 This refers to the Antiquity of Man, which was published in 1863. 



2 The first paragraph of this letter was published in Life and Letters, 

 II., pp. 387, 388. 



