cn 
Zz Sir Richard Owen, K.C.B. 
He was fortunate in belonging so early in the century to the 
medical profession, then standing almost alone as a body of most 
intelligent and able men of science (for the eminent chemists and 
engineers have arisen since). They could not spare time to criticize 
Owen’s work, but they were as a body most generous and appre- 
ciative, and but few ever opposed him. He was happy in being 
appointed to the charge of the Hunterian Collections, for so many 
years kept back from publication by Sir Everard Home, who 
had promised to edit the Hunterian MSS. also, but failed to do so. 
Add to this his special opportunities and facilities for comparative 
anatomical studies, afforded by the Zoological Society ; but most 
of all, to his choice of paleontology, then a virgin field of research, 
over which he was free to travel far and wide, and to reap for 
years golden harvests almost unchallenged by other workers. So 
unused was he to rivalry in his special lines of research that when 
younger men, like Falconer, Busk, G. R. Waterhouse, Huxley, and 
others, took the field, he became most keen to watch the “ quarry,” 
and when espied, even from afar, Owen eagle-like, would pounce 
upon and carry off the coveted spoil; indeed his whole nature 
seemed transformed in the presence of a new and undescribed 
fossil, so eager was he to take the field and describe it, or (as 
frequently happened) if the new discovery arrived at an unpro- 
pitious moment, he was equally eager to conceal his treasure from 
the curious and inquiring eyes of youthful aspirants. 
It is pleasant to turn from the small struggles and weaknesses, 
which great men are apt, like lesser ones, to betray, and remember 
the solid advantages which Owen gained for us by long years of 
continuous and earnest work; even his very love of high and 
exalted personages has resulted in solid gain to science in the 
acquisition for the nation, through his persistent advocacy for 
twenty years, of the magnificent building in Cromwell Road, in 
which are now preserved the entire series of Natural History 
Collections, formerly overcrowded and inadequately housed in the 
old Museum Buildings in Great Russell Street. 
This notice would be still further incomplete were we to omit. 
to remember the fact that Owen was able to shake off his scientific 
aspect and become, at Sheen Lodge, the amiable host and the 
accomplished guide to the beauties of his own wilderness garden 
at the back of Sheen Lodge, or to the wider and more extensive 
charms of Richmond Park. As a raconteur Professor Owen was 
inimitable. He had delightful stories to tell of Thackeray, of the 
Emperor of Brazil (who came out from London to visit him at 
7 o’clock in the morning), of the gracious visits paid him by the 
Royal tamily; of his winters spent in Egypt; one winter in 
the company of H. and H.R.H. the Prince and Princess of Wales. 
He would tell of his visit to Italy to attend the Scientific Congress 
at Bologna, his trip to Vesuvius, and his visit to H.M. Bomba, 
king of Naples (now happily dethroned and gone) : or of his visit 
to the Vicomte de Lastic, to secure for the Museum the grand 
