238 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. VII. 
captain was killed and he was scratched, but not 
bad enough to go into the list. Cary and I went 
last night to a brilliant party at Mrs. Simpkinson’s 
(Lady Franklin’s sister), to meet there Buckland, 
Babbage, Sir H. Ellis, Schomburgk, the traveller 
from Guiana, Count Strelingkski [Strzelecki], 
the traveller from Australia, and all manner of 
notabilities and their wives and daughters, and 
the last wife (I think the seventh) of Lord 
Edgeworth, and her son. ... I have launched 
No. 4 of the “ Brit. Foss. Mamm.” and my 
papers on “Dinornis” and “Belemnites” are both 
out. ... I intend, you may rely on it, to read 
“ Coningsby ; ” but no time now — am at it at 
6 A.M., as in the busy times of last year. I signed 
and sealed the Report No. i to Her Majesty ‘on 
Health of Towns yesterday.’ 
Amongst the ‘ rare beasts ’ to which Owen 
refers as having been indebted to Sir John 
Franklin, the following are mentioned in the 
diary, which continues : — 
'July lo. — A collection of birds from Van 
Diemen’s Land and Australia. One apteryx 
skin. A fine Van Diemen’s Land native skull, 
with teeth beautiful. This Lady Franklin 
brought especially for R., and he carried it to 
the coach in his white silk handkerchief, to the 
amusement of sundry.’ 
‘ \ 2th. — Mr. Barlow came, and kept me in 
close conversation over an hour. Amongst other 
