134 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. IV. 
'Jtme 13. — R. engaged on the apteryx. In 
the evening he went to the dinner given to Sir 
John Herschell on his return from the Cape.’ 
''Jtine 16. — To-day one of the giraffes lifted 
to his own height a peacock in full spread, and, 
after giving the bird a shake, which left a 
mouthful of long tail-feathers in his mouth, let 
him drop, and the peacock ran off with his train 
shut up in a great fright. The giraffe lifted him 
by seizing some of the middle feathers (where the 
Argus eyes are) as the peacock was proudly dis- 
playing them, and then began chewing them with 
much satisfaction. The keeper gave him a 
whipping for his trouble. The peacocks were in 
the same enclosure as the giraffe. R.’s eyes 
are beginning to suffer from over-use. As 
he could not read or write this evening, we 
went to Seguin’s benefit. Handel’s “ Acis and 
Galatea.” ’ 
'June 29. — R.’s last lecture (Hunterian).’ 
In the early part of August Owen attended 
the meeting of the British Association at New- 
castle, travelling from London by sea. He writes 
to his wife from Gateshead Rectory, where he 
was the guest of the rector, Mr. Douglas. ‘The 
“ Ocean ” arrived with her cargo of philosophy, 
and, I ought to add, literature, for Harriet 
Martineau was on board. See other side ’ (a 
sketch which represents that lady holding up a 
huge ear-trumpet). 
