Darwin Correspondence Project

Down Farnborough Kent [Malvern]

June 15th

My dear Sir

I have seldom been more deeply gratified, than by receiving your most kind present of “Lake Superior”: I had heard of it, & had much wished to read it, but I confess that it was the very great honour of having in my possession a work with your autograph, as a presentation copy, that has given me such lively & sincere pleasure. I cordially thank you for it. I have began to read it with uncommon interest, which I see will increase as I go on.—

The Cirripedia which you & Dr Gould were so good as to send me, have proved of great service to me. The sessile species from Massachussets consist of five species; I will give their names &c, though I do not know whether you will care to hear about them.— 1) Balanus balanoides = Lepas balanoides Linn (= B. punctatus of most British authors)—a littoral species; Europæan. B. ovularis & elongatus of Dr Goulds named specimens— (2) B. vulgaris (?) = L. balanoides Linn. (confounded by most or all authors with B. balanoides) Europæan deepish water. B. rugosus & Balanoides of Dr Gould's named specimens. 3) B. sulcatus Brugiere = L. balanus Linn. = B. geniculatus Conrad Europæan 4. B. tulipa M'{u}ller = B. candidus & scoticus of British authors, (sent mingled with B. eburneus by Dr Gould.) Europæan 5. B. eburneus Gould. —— United States.—

Of the genus Balanus on the shores of Britain we have one species B. perforatus Brugière which you have not in U. States; in the same way as you exclusively have B. eburneus.—

All the above species attain a somewhat larger average size on the shores of the U. States than on those of Britain, but, the specimens from the Glacial beds of Uddevalla, Scotland & Canada are larger even than those of the U. States.

If you think that Dr Gould would care to see these few remarks on the Cirripedia of the U. States, will you kindly send him this letter.

I have not yet examined the Chthamalus & Chelonobia you sent me from Charlestown.—

Once again allow me to thank you with cordiality for the pleasure you have given me

Believe me with the highest respect | Yours truly obliged | C. Darwin