318 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. x. 



fitting monument, and of which science, and, let us 

 hope, its cultivators in his native country more 

 particularly, will long continue to reap the 

 benefits.' 



The British Museum purchased the collection 

 in 1866. 



Owen's power of concentration and absorp- 

 tion in a subject which interested him, was not 

 confined to professional or scientific matters. 

 We find that on January 22, 'after having 

 heard a lecture of Whewell's, he went on to 

 the Club, 2 and took up Thackeray's " Vanity 

 Fair" to read. He became so deeply absorbed in 

 the book that he sat on, oblivious of the fact that 

 everyone else had disappeared one by one. He 

 was also apparently deaf to coughs and hints of 

 attendants, &c. ; but still sat there reading and 

 laughing to himself. At last in desperation the 

 men came forward and began to take away the 

 lamps. Then, having looked at his watch and found 

 it considerably past 2 a.m., he rushed wildly out of 

 the Club, and, like a scientific Cinderella, left his 

 umbrella and great-coat behind.' 



He watched for the monthly numbers of 

 Dickens's works with great eagerness, and read 

 them with much enjoyment as they came out. 

 On February 29 No. 18 of ' Dombey ' appeared, 

 and he ' stayed up very late reading it.' He thus 

 states his opinion as to the manner of Carker's 



2 The Athenaeum. 



