Darwin, C. R. to Ross, J. C.
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Thanks for sending cirripedes. Cannot make out the label, so can JCR tell him the bank and the depth. Hopes to keep the specimens for 6 or 8 weeks before returning them.
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Transcription
Down | Farnborough | Kent
Feb. 25
Dear Sir James Ross
I am very much obliged to you for so kindly remembering my wish to see any Cirripedes in your possession: I received them only a few days since owing to my not having been for a long time in London.— I am now very sorry to trouble you, but I cannot make out the label enclosed: will you kindly tell me what Bank it is, & if you remember the depth. The dry Balani, I presume came from T. del Fuego.
Finally, one more question: sh
I am really sorry thus to trouble you.
Pray believe me | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin
To | Capt. Sir J. Ross | R.N. &c &c.
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- f1 1158a.f1
The date is suggested by the relationship to a letter to Ross in December 1847 requesting Ross's assistance with his cirripede monograph. See n. 2, below. - +
- f2 1158a.f2
In a letter to Ross, 31 December 1847 (Correspondence vol. 4), CD asked Ross to collect cirripede specimens for him during his forthcoming voyage in search of John Franklin (1848--9). Ross had previously collected cirripedes during his Antarctic exploring expedition (1839--43) and seems to have sent these to CD in response to his request. Specimens of Balanus from Ross's Antarctic collection were described in Living Cirripedia (1854): 209, 225. - +
- f3 1158a.f3
The letter is annotated `And 30 Mar', presumably the date of a letter from Ross to CD that is now missing. - +
- f4 1158a.f4
CD recorded having worked on Balanus in February 1847 and did not again study this genus of sessile cirripedes until late in 1850. See Correspondence vol. 4, Appendix I.