1843-44 
A ‘MOA’S’ HEAD 
239 
things, he has it at heart to get R. to give 
the Christmas course of lectures at the Royal 
Institute.’ 
‘ 2^th. — Mr. and Mrs. Paget, Mr. A. Gries- 
bach, Mr. Cooper, &c., here to look at the 
moa’s head (so-called), just arrived. After so 
much expectation and such fears for its safety 
after its arrival, it was perhaps a little trying to 
find that this enormous head proved to be nothing 
more than the skull of a seal. A bit of a 
dinornis skull was thrown in.’ 
‘ Atigiist 9. — Went to see “Martin Chuzzle- 
wit ’■ dramatised. As we went to the pit, whilst 
Waiting there R. corrected a proof, and did some 
more before the curtain went up. Upon the 
whole a poor show, but Keeley’s Mrs. Gamp 
most excellent, Mrs. Keeley as Bailey good. 
Nadgett also well done.’ 
On August 10, Owen saw his wife and child 
off to Dover. He had so much on his hands at 
the time that he could not do more than pay 
them flying visits. His extraordinary capacity 
for work is continually shown in his letters. In 
Writing to his sister Eliza on August 20, he says : 
‘ I had pledged myself to complete my catalogue 
for the meeting of Trustees in August, and, 
through labour early and late, and a good printer, 
j'^ho sometimes knocked off eight quarto sheets 
'0 one week, I was able to have the copy com- 
Plote on their table last Saturday week. I have 
