1843-44 A 'MOA'S' HEAD 239 



things, he has it at heart to get R. to give 

 the Christmas course of lectures at the Royal 

 Institute.' 



'29/i.— Mr. and Mrs. Paget, Mr. A. Gries- 

 bach, Mr. Cooper, &c, here to look at the 

 moa's head (so-called), just arrived. After so 

 much expectation and such fears for its safety 

 after its arrival, it was perhaps a little trying to 

 find that this enormous head proved to be nothing 

 more than the skull of a seal. A bit of a 

 dinornis skull was thrown in.' 



'August 9. — Went to see " Martin Chuzzle- 

 wit" dramatised. As we went to the pit, whilst 

 waiting there R. corrected a proof, and did some 

 more before the curtain went up. Upon the 

 whole a poor show, but Keeley's Mrs. Gamp 

 most excellent, Mrs. Keeley as Bailey good. 

 Nadgett also well done.' 



On August 10, Owen saw his wife and child 

 off to Dover. He had so much on his hands at 

 the time that he could not do more than pay 

 them flying visits. His extraordinary capacity 

 for work is continually shown in his letters. In 

 writing to his sister Eliza on August 20, he says : 

 ' I had pledged myself to complete my catalogue 

 for the meeting of Trustees in August, and, 

 through labour early and late, and a good printer, 

 who sometimes knocked off eight quarto sheets 

 in one week, I was able to have the copy com- 

 plete on their table last Saturday week. I have 



