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 In a letter of 14th March 1888, to the author's wife, Owen wrote:—

In 1856 Owen was appointed Superintendent of the Department of Natural History in the British Museum, and his acceptance of this office necessitated the severance of his connection with the Royal College of Surgeons. The natural history collections at the British Museum were so extensive, and increasing so rapidly, that urgent demands for more space had frequently been made, and Owen took up the question with his usual enthusiasm. Ultimately the handsome building at South Kensington was erected, and from 1880 to 1884 Owen was engaged in superintending the removal of the collection. Owen could not but look with pride on the splendid result of his labours. It was the embodiment of what may be called one of the dreams of his life. Absorbing as his official duties often were, he did not permit them to stand in the way of his researches; and during the twenty-seven years of his connection with the British Museum he made numerous and valuable contributions to science.

Altogether he published nearly seven hundred memoirs,