Summary

Has been able to do nothing in science of late due to illness [of Henrietta].

When JDD reads Origin, CD knows he will be opposed to it, but he will be liberal and philosophical, which is more than he can say for his English opponents.

Has not yet seen L. Agassiz’s attack, but in principle avoids answering.

No one understands Origin so well as Asa Gray.

At BAAS meeting at Oxford, CD’s side seems almost to have got the best of the battle.

Summary

Illness has prevented his reading Origin. He has, however, expressed his [negative] opinion on the subject of mutability of species in his Manual of geology [1862]. Since his persuasions are so strong, he can do no less.

Summary

Responds to JDD’s letter [3845].

Discusses his own poor health.

"Man is our great subject at present."

Lyell’s book [Antiquity of man (1863)] sold 4000 copies on day of sale.

"The fossil bird [Archaeopteryx] … is a grand case for me." Wishes a skeleton could be found in the "so-called red sandstone foot-step beds".

Summary

Hopes CD has received a copy of his [Manual of] Geology [1862]; justifies his assertion that geology provides no evidence to support the view that life has evolved through a method of development from species to species.

Summary

Received JDD’s book [Manual of geology (1862)]

and pamphlet on man ["On the higher subdivisions in the classification of mammals", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 35 (1863): 65–71].

Fully admits JDD’s objections are valid. But is convinced of the general truth of his own views (with much incidental error), because they embrace so many phenomena and explain them.

Discusses some mistakes Owen has made;

Falconer’s disagreement with Owen ["On the mammalian genus Plagiaulax", Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 18 (1862): 348–69].

Summary

JDD is sending a copy of his book, Corals and coral islands [1872], with his compliments.

Summary

Thanks CD for Coral reefs [2d ed. (1874)].

JDD will correct his misunderstanding of CD on one point in the next edition of his book [Corals and coral islands].

Suggests CD consult Charles Wilkes’s Narrative [1844] for more accurate observations on Pacific islands.

Summary

Describes his research on cirripedes: an "anatomical and systematic catalogue". Asks to borrow specimens.

Summary

Discusses cirripedes collected by JDD.

Gratified that he agrees "to some extent" with CD’s views on coral reefs.

Mentions his health.

Asks for JDD’s publication on cirripedes.

Sends message from William Baird concerning Crustacea research of J. O. Westwood.

Mentions Joseph Leidy’s discovery of cirripede eyes.

Summary

Comments on JDD’s book [Geology (1849)]. Is sending copies of various geological papers. Their agreements and differences on coral reefs, volcanic geology, denudation, and subsidence.

Comments on Robert Chambers’ book [Ancient sea-margins (1848)].

Asks to borrow cirripede specimens.

Summary

Regrets delay in sending pamphlets for JDD.

Thanks him for information concerning cirripedes.

Sends thanks to Charles Pickering for information about plant distribution.

Discusses boring species of cirripedes.

Believes Harry D. S. Goodsir mistaken about parasites on Balanus ["Observations on organs of generation in Crustacea", Edinburgh New Philos. J. 36 (1843–4): 183–6]. In fact parasites are the males of the species.

Summary

Gives his opinion that the larval antennae in Lepas correspond with the inferior antennae, the superior not present, as in most Daphnidae. [See 1381.]

Summary

Discusses attachment of antennae in larvae of cirripedes.

Asks for information about how parasitic cirripedes are attached to host.

Summary

Thanks him for letter and Balanus specimen.

Acasta is curious; may be a new genus.

Is sending copy [of Fossil Cirripedia 1]. Correcting proofs [of Living Cirripedia 1].

Mentions comment by Hermann Abich on JDD’s chapters on the Sandwich Islands [in Geology (1849)].

Summary

Sending first volumes on Living and Fossil Cirripedia. Solicits JDD’s opinion, especially on sexual relations of Scalpellum and Ibla, on which he "hardly expect[s] to be believed".

Sends unusual crustacean specimen collected by B. J. Sulivan.

The Sporillus sent by JDD is a very curious species of Acasta [see Living Cirripedia 2: 319].

Asks JDD to identify and give geographical distribution of pieces of coral in which some cirripedes are imbedded.

Summary

Gratified by JDD’s opinion of his work.

Discusses problem of homologies of cirripede larva in first stage and reasons for his view.

JDD’s information on corals was just what CD needed.

Would like specimen of blind cave rat described by B. Silliman [Jr] ["On the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 11 (1851): 336] for Waterhouse to examine.

Discusses origin of Australian valleys; he disagrees with JDD’s river-erosion hypothesis.

Summary

Thanks JDD for information.

Discusses Acasta sporillus.

Comments on review of first volume of Living Cirripedia [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 14 (1852): 125–7].

Asks JDD to examine Lerneidae.

Will read with interest the geographical discussion of Crustacea when JDD’s volume [Crustacea (1852–5)] appears. John Lubbock will purchase a copy.

Discusses error in Living Cirripedia.

Summary

Admires JDD’s work on Crustacea, corals, and geology.

Commends young John Lubbock to his attention. Hopes JDD can give him encouragement; if he can resist his "great wealth, business, and rank, he may do good work in Natural History".

Summary

Thanks JDD for copy of his Crustacea [1852–5]

and D. D. Owen’s Report [of a geological survey of Wisconsin, etc. (1852)].

Summary

Responds to JDD’s objections to his views on the three pairs of appendages in larvae of cirripedes. Reports observations which confirm his views.

Gives his confidential opinion of A. White, C. S. Bate, T. Bell, and W. Baird.

Interested in JDD’s observation that Crustacea are not most developed in the tropics. If JDD ever works it out either in number of species or rank, CD would be glad to have result.

Comments on article by Henri Milne-Edwards ["Crustacés", Ann. Sci. Nat. (Zool.) 18 (1852): 109–66].