CHAPTER VI. 



The Domicile of the Goodsirs, its Peculiarities and Attractions — 

 " Noctes Lothianco " — A New Curatorship — Salmonida) — u Sar- 

 cina Ventriculi " and other Inquiries — Demonstrator and Chief 

 Curator. — His Theories Modified. 



The domicile of the Goodsirs in No. 21 Lothian Street, 

 adjacent to the University of Edinburgh, was approach- 

 ed by a public flight of stairs, to which six different 

 families had access, and consisted of the half of a top 

 flat or storey, with attics — rented at £17 a-year! In 

 character it ranked with the dwellings of petty trades- 

 men, and though the rooms were small they accommo- 

 dated two or three brothers Goodsir, Edward Forbes, 

 George E. Day — all very tall men, also their visitors, 

 and a housekeeper or cook, and two lads who acted as 

 anatomical assistants in the museum and as grooms-in- 

 waiting at home. Man was not the sole occupant; 

 ot her living things — biped, quadruped, manuped, and 

 nulliped had their share in the fortunes of the house- 

 hold. "Jacko" the monkey,* "Coco" the tortoise, 



* "Jacko" was a droll customer, with a keen eye to his physical com- 

 forts. Looking upwards in the Bcale of being, or "aping his betters," he 



would have a vapour-bath, and in a i Le that indicated neither propriety nor 



decorum. Watching bis opportunity when the pot of boiling potatoes was 

 removed from the fire, he used to warm bis hips oyer the steaming rapoura 

 Mr. Day having caughl him in the m t, vowed he would ea1 no more potatoes 

 unle ■ pr< ented in their dry jackets. After Goodsir observed the parasite 

 VOL. I. II 



