My dear Sir

I write one line to say that I received this morning (to my grief be it confessed) an enormous lot of Scanian & Copenhagen Cirripedial fossils;¹ in all probability some of the specimens will be better than those sent to you; will you therefore be so kind as to stop engraving any of the foreign species; for I presume it makes no difference at what part of Plate you work. In a weeks time I hope to get through this lot, & then you shall hear from me again.—

Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

Names of the foreign species to guide you. (1) S Nilssonii or undulatum (I forget which it is called) on your list.—² (2) Anatifera or S. cretæ (3) P. hausmanni (4) elongatus (5) carinatus (6) validus (7) dorsatus (8). elegans

P.S. It will save time, if you will be so kind as to send me by return of Post, my rough drawings of the above 8 foreign species;³ just write in pencil whether any of them are already engraved:—I am sure I can send some better specimens.—

I assure you that for my own sake, as well as yours, I am sorry to give this new trouble.—

Please send by return of Post