1872-82 THE BEAR'S HAM 219 



tuality the fact that just as he was getting into 

 his carriage a groom rode up to the gate, pre- 

 sented a note, and requested an immediate answer. 

 The note ran as follows : — 



October 9, 1872. 



1 My dear Sir, — I should feel greatly obliged 

 to you if you would be so kind as to inform me 

 whether this is or is not the tooth of a dog. It 

 was found in a sausage, and 1 should like to feel 

 sure about it before saying anything about it 

 to the tradesman. Will you kindly return the 

 enclosed with your reply ? 



' I am, dear Sir, &c, &c.' 



Owen returned to his study, and in reply to his 

 correspondent, who evidently suspected the intro- 

 duction of unlawful meats into the sausage skin, 

 wrote that the tooth was merely that of a sucking- 



pig- 



On another occasion a footman came over 



from Pembroke Lodge with a large bone wrapped 

 up in paper, and a note from Lord John Russell 

 requesting Owen to let him know to what animal 

 the bone belonged. The Professor looked at it, 

 and at a glance perceived that it was a ham bone 

 of an ordinary pig. The description was trans- 

 ferred to paper, and the footman returned to 

 Pembroke Lodge, leaving Owen at a Joss to 

 understand why a ham bone should have been 

 sent to him. 



