1869-71 
THYLACOLEO 
211 
tome of his various journeys. I went mainly to 
see the human skull he brought from Holland.’ 
In 1871 Owen was again offered the Presidency 
of the Geological Society. This he refused, giving 
as his reasons the increased duties and responsi- 
bilities of his official position, his advanced age, 
and declining health. With reference to this 
event, it is interesting to read the following re- 
marks from his old friend Sir Philip Egerton, 
which occur in a letter dated December 22, 1871. 
Skull of Thylacoleo, an Extinct An.sTRALiAN Marsupial 
DESCRIBED BY OWEN AS A ‘ POUCHED LlON.’ f Natural size.J 
Sir Philip says : ‘ I am exceedingly glad for your 
sake that you have declined the G. S. chair. It 
Would be a great clog round your leg for two 
years ; ’ and, with the characteristic spirit of an 
old member, he adds : ‘ The social aspect of the 
Society is very different nowadays from what it 
Was in the halcyon days of yore.’ 
Owen contributed an interesting article this 
year to ‘ Blackwood’s Magazine,’ descriptive of 
p 2 
