1872-82 
THE BEAR’S HAM 
219 
tuality the fact that just as he was getting into 
his carriage a groom rode up to the gate, pre- 
sented a note, and requested an immediate answer. 
The note ran as follows : — 
October 9, 1872. 
‘ My dear Sir, — I should feel greatly obliged 
to you if you would be so kind as to inform me 
whether this is or is not the tooth of a dog. It 
was found in a sausage, and 1 should like to feel 
sure about it before saying anything about it 
to the tradesman. Will you kindly return the 
enclosed with your reply ? 
‘ I am, dear Sir, &c., &c.’ 
Owen returned to his study, and in reply to his 
correspondent, who evidently suspected the intro- 
duction of unlawful meats into the sausage skin, 
wrote that the tooth was merely that of a sucking- 
pig- 
On another occasion a footman came over 
from Pembroke Lodge with a large bone wrapped 
up in paper, and a note from Lord John Russell 
requesting Owen to let him know to what animal 
the bone belonged. The Professor looked at it, 
and at a glance perceived that it was a ham bone 
of an ordinary pig. The description was trans- 
ferred to paper, and the footman returned to 
Pembroke Lodge, leaving Owen at a loss to 
understand why a ham bone should have been 
sent to him. 
