1855-56 
THE PHOENIX 
5 
was respectfully requested as to whether such was 
the case, or, if not, from what bird’s beak the bowl 
had been made. 
’ After some research in the museum I found 
the head and beak of the bird which must have 
yielded such a bowl as that of the Sultan s ladle. 
The bird is a very rare one, a native of Ceylon, 
and called the “ Helmeted Hornbill,” or Buceros 
galeatus. Sir Joseph Banks had presented a 
specimen of it. The head and beak were brought 
into my study and handed to the Oriental. He 
examined it very deftly, comparing the beak with 
the bowl, and then exclaimed with astonishment 
and reverence, “ God is great ! That surely is the 
bird ! ” I took a large sheet of paper, and wrote 
a brief certificate of the nature and country of the 
bird from which the Sultan’s ladle had been made, 
and gave it to the Turk, requesting the inter- 
preter to write down the name and titles of the 
individual to whom the precious article had been 
entrusted. It was as follows : “ Mohammed Abu 
Said, Chief Spoon and Ladle-maker to the Com- 
mander of the Faithful.” 
‘ So much for the phoenix.’ 
On April 20 Owen attended the opening cere- 
mony of the Crystal Palace, which had been removed 
to Sydenham. It is thus described in the diary : 
To London Bridge about eleven. Babbage in our 
carriage ; crowd tremendous. We kept together 
till fairly in the Palace.. R. could not find his 
