218 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. vm. 



were swimming with their rhythmical movements 

 in the clear blue, and there were many varieties 

 of Northern sea-birds to be seen. Fished, but 

 the sky and water too bright for much sport. . . . 

 As we steamed out of the loch I saw a pair of 

 grand sea-eagles soaring above the rocky preci- 

 pices.' 



This letter occupies many pages, describing 

 the local scenery and the great Druidical circle at 

 Callernish. 



On August 28 he writes to inform his sister 

 of his safe arrival home, and of the renewal of his 

 work at the British Museum. 



Writing to his wife on Wednesday, September 

 4, he says : ' This day last week Albert Glinther 

 accompanied me from the Museum. We sat down 

 to chess before dinner, when the Bishop of London 

 was announced ; as he rode over with one of his 

 pretty daughters, Albert held his lordship's horse 

 and chatted with the young lady while I took the 

 Bishop round the garden. ... I went to Fulham 

 on Friday ; rambled through the gardens, dis- 

 cussed the trees, was shown the additions to the 

 palace, and so home to a quiet seven o'clock 

 dinner/ 



An amusing incident occurred on October 9, 

 when Owen was engaged to dine with Mr. John 

 Murray at Wimbledon. 2 He arrived half an hour 

 late, and pleaded as an excuse for his unpunc- 



2 Kindly communicated by Mr. Murray. 



