288 PROFESSOR OWEN ch ix. 



[Egerton] and I joined the Red Lions* in a 

 yacht belonging to a Liverpool member, who 

 has a large fortune and has fitted his vessel 

 out for the purpose of dredging and otherwise 

 investigating the Natural History of the deep. 

 We had a delicious day ; just the right breeze. 

 Our party consisted of Professor Clarke (Cam- 

 bridge), Lyell, Agassiz, Ansted, Robt. Ball of 

 Dublin, Professor Allman, Ed. Forbes ; break- 

 fasted and dined on board, and caught many 

 curious critters. . . . Southampton is, of course, in 

 a state of bustle and excitement ; but without some 

 exertion the " Times " will swamp these useful and 

 valuable assemblies. It is something to have 

 compelled its respect in regard to my own doings 

 among the savans. Prince Albert came to our 

 Zoological Section just after I had concluded a 

 lecture on the skulls of animals.' 



After the meeting, Sir Roderick Murchison 

 writes on November i to Owen : — 



1 I cannot for the life of me comprehend why, 

 after your excellent description, you will not ven- 

 ture on any sort of a name [for the fossil fox]. 



' You demonstrate it to be no dog, and yet 

 you allow Von Meyer's name to stand, which is 

 founded (mind) on a complete misapprehension 

 of parts of the animal. . . . 



' As the animal is a British acquisition — is 



2 A club connected with the British Association of which Owen 

 was a member. 



