124 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. iv. 



'June 13. — R. engaged on the apteryx. In 

 the evening he went to the dinner given to Sir 

 John Herschell on his return from the Cape.' 



'June 16. — To-day one of the giraffes lifted 

 to his own height a peacock in full spread, and, 

 after giving the bird a shake, which left a 

 mouthful of long tail-feathers in his mouth, let 

 him drop, and the peacock ran off with his train 

 shut up in a great fright. The giraffe lifted him 

 by seizing some of the middle feathers (where the 

 Argus eyes are) as the peacock was proudly dis- 

 playing them, and then began chewing them with 

 much satisfaction. The keeper gave him a 

 whipping for his trouble. The peacocks were in 

 the same enclosure as the giraffe. R.'s eyes 

 are beginning to suffer from over-use. As 

 he could not read or write this evening, we 

 went to Seguin's benefit. Handel's " Acis and 

 Galatea." ' 



'June 29. — R.'s last lecture (Hunterian).' 



In the early part of August Owen attended 

 the meeting of the British Association at New- 

 castle, travelling from London by sea. He writes 

 to his wife from Gateshead Rectory, where he 

 was the guest of the rector, Mr. Douglas. ' The 

 " Ocean " arrived with her cargo of philosophy, 

 and, I ought to add, literature, for Harriet 

 Martineau was on board. See other side ' (a 

 sketch which represents that lady holding up a 

 huge ear-trumpet). 



