1848-49 evidence before house of commons 335 
serious and rather pretty Brobdignag cherub, but 
is no cherub in sense ; whatever he says is to the 
point, and good feeling and thorough truthfulness 
are always at the bottom of it.’ 
‘ 15M. — R. dining with the “ Red Lions.” He 
was to-day at the British Museum Committee of 
the House of Commons giving evidence. R.’s 
statements and evidence caused much sensation.’ 
^ March 13. — Lecture I. for 1849.^ Last 
night R. read to me his first introductory lec- 
ture for criticisms, &c. The whole course this 
season is intensely interesting. This introductory 
lecture is split up into two parts. They are to be 
published at once.’ 
< — Mr. Mitchell called to say that the 
Zoological Gardens had made another acquisition 
bower birds, two males and a female, brought 
over alive. R. was talking it over this evening, 
and he remarked, ci propos of the bower bird 
building with bright-looking shells, stones, &c., 
that it might be a remnant of such a propensity 
as causes a magpie to carry off and hide glittering 
objects.’ 
^ 2\st . — To-night a letter from the Admiralty 
to R., enclosing one from Admiral Sir C. Napier 
describing a sea-serpent. The first lieutenant s 
drawing (a good one) was sent too. R- soon had 
an idea which seems a satisfactory one.’ 
‘ 2 To-day I drew the explanation of the 
■* Hunterian Lectures, ‘ On Invertebrata.’ 
