86 BIOGRAPHIES OF SCIENTIFIC MEN 



In a letter of 14th March 1888, to the author's wife, 

 Owen wrote : 



Accept my grateful arid respectful thanks for the copy of your 

 interesting "Note on Degenerated Specimens of Tulipa sylvestris." 

 If ladies with similar gifts of observation, and equal power of clear 

 exposition, would as kindly bestow them, science would benefit more 

 largely and rapidly than at present. I avail myself of this opportunity 

 of also thanking your gifted husband for the valuable paper " On the 

 Problematical Organs of the Invertebrata," which accompanied your gift. 



In 1856 Owen was appointed Superintendent of the 

 Department of Natural History in the British Museum, 

 and his acceptance of this office necessitated the severance 

 of his connection with the Royal College of Surgeons. 

 The natural history collections at the British Museum 

 were so extensive, and increasing so rapidly, that urgent 

 demands for more space had frequently been made, and 

 Owen took up the question with his usual enthusiasm. 

 Ultimately the handsome building at South Kensington 

 was erected, and from 1880 to 1884 Owen was engaged 

 in superintending the removal of the collection. Owen 

 could not but look with pride on the splendid result of his 

 labours. It was the embodiment of what may be called 

 one of the dreams of his life. Absorbing as his official 

 duties often were, he did not permit them to stand in the 

 way of his researches ; and during the twenty -seven 

 years of his connection with the British Museum he made 

 numerous and valuable contributions to science. 



Altogether he published nearly seven hundred memoirs, 



