OWEN 89 



circles, would imagine that the elephant, rhinoceros, 

 hippopotamus, bear, and other animals lived in England, 

 France, Germany, and other parts of Europe ? 



Owen in his Paleontology states that " more true 

 turtles have left their remains in the London clay at the 

 mouth of the Thames than are known to exist in the 

 world." What a difference from to-day ! 



Concerning Owen's attitude towards Darwinism, it may 

 be stated that Herbert Spencer was no strict Darwinian, 

 for he remained, like Haeckel and others, a firm believer 

 in Lamarckism. 



Early in 1890 Sir Richard Owen was seized with a 

 paralytic stroke, from which he never entirely recovered, 

 but lingered on until 18th December 1892, when he passed 

 peacefully away. 



Speaking of his own work, he wrote to the author on 

 26th December 1887, as follows : 



Your kindly greetings are always welcome ; they brighten declining 

 years with failing strength. But bright gleams, as such are, enliven 

 an old worker who can look back with some satisfaction. The sun is 

 now shining in upon my writing-table on a pile of friendly letters that 

 must be acknowledged by yours very truly, Richard Owen. 



Owen would have been buried in Westminster Abbey 

 if it had not been his wish to be laid in the same grave 

 as his wife (who died on 7th May 1872). Both lie buried 

 in Ham churchyard. 



