338 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. x. 



" King Lear " was patted on the back by Lord 

 Carlisle, and after a little critical chat on one 

 of Turner's peculiarities, moved on. Looking 

 next at a group of fawns by Edwin Landseer, 

 someone pushed past my elbow, and who should 

 it be but the old Duke of Wellington : a stiff bow, 

 and on he marched, all military upright to the 

 shoulders, and then the reverend old head pokes 

 forward at an obtuse angle ; the large silver buckle 

 of the stiff white stock shining at the nape, above 

 the collar of the blue coat with its bright gold 

 buttons and shining star. The crimson sash 

 across the white waistcoat, black pantaloons and 

 shining boots. Looking better, I think, than last 

 year, and quite enjoying the pictures. After his 

 Grace had passed I followed quietly in his wake ; 

 but was soon arrested by the Duke of Northum- 

 berland, who had invited me a month or two ago 

 to the North, and repeated his hospitable wishes. 

 Some badinage about the sea-serpent (I shall 

 never hear the last of that), and then came tripping 

 along my Lord Brougham : a civil salute, but he 

 evidently forgot to whom. In three minutes, 

 however, he came back again, and plunged at once 

 into the mysteries of " Parthenogenesis," about 

 which the world is beginning to talk, as the subject 

 of my " Lectures" oozes out in conversation. Lord 

 Monteagle and then Lord Stanley, and then the 

 Chief Baron Pollock, and then little Lord John 

 [Russell], as sharp as a sparrow-hawk, and the 



