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Darwin Correspondence Project

To J. de C. Sowerby   10 February [1851]

Down Farnborough Kent

Feb. 10th.

My dear Sir

I like the looks of the Plates now they are complete; but I see several of my corrections have not been fully attended to; I presume that they required too extensive changes.

All the Plates can be printed off, except I, of which I am sorry to say I must see another revise, as soon as you can:—I send the old Proof & my instructions; & by this you will see the little alterations required in Fig. 9.—1 The more important one, is in Fig 7. (a) & (b) and (f) and (g) all require alterations.—2

In (a) & (b) it is only the upper part which are bad; you have falsely given the appearance of a great central & two great marginal broad ridges.

In (g) (& I did not notice this error before) you have represented a great central ridge, which does not exist, the central ridge is barely larger than all the other small longitudinal ridges or lines.—

In (f) the whole surface is striated as represented, but there is no trace of one line or ridge larger than the others; & where I have put the red crosses, you have made one conspicuous ridge or fold; this must be obliterated.—3

Thanks for the corrections in lettering in Plate II: please see that this is corrected. as I have not put it.

When the Revise of I. is sent me: please return me the specimens you have of S. magnum, undulatus & P. rigidus4 —in the wooden or tin Box.—5

Your’s very faithfully | C. Darwin

P.S.— | If you so require, I will send up specimens of S. arcuatum ie of Fig 7. in Pl. I.—

Footnotes

The figure is of the valves of Scalpellum simplex (Fossil Cirripedia (1851): Tab. I).
Fig. 7 is of the valves of Scalpellum arcuatum.
The figure still retains a ridge, although CD appears to have been satisfied with Sowerby’s revision (see letter to J. de C. Sowerby, 19 February [1851]).
Scalpellum magnum, Pollicipes undulatus, and P. rigidus (a synonym of P. elegans).
CD was anxious to avoid any damage to his borrowed specimens. He had previously had specimens broken in transit (see Correspondence vol. 4, letters to Robert Fitch, 10 January [1850], 15 January [1850], [23 January 1850], and [6 February 1850]).

Bibliography

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Summary

CD likes the plates [for Fossil Cirripedia (Lepadidae)] except pl. I [Scalpellum], which calls for several revisions; he sees that not all corrections were made, but assumes they called for too extensive changes.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-1388
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
James de Carle Sowerby
Sent from
Down
Source of text
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.)
Physical description
ALS 4pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 1388,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-1388.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 5

letter