Darwin Correspondence Project

To the Council of the Royal Socy

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I recommend Dr Carpenter's paper on Orbitolites to be printed in the Transactions. Though written, as it appears to me, in too diffuse a style, I cannot point any particular portion which could be condensed.

With respect to the publication of the very beautiful drawings, I feel much difficulty: their cost, I apprehend, would be very great, & there does not seem to me, sufficient new matter of physiological importance in the memoir to justify going to a very great expence. Dr Carpenter seems rather to overrate the novelty of connecting forms, apparently very different, by intermediate structures; though he most justly appreciates the importance of always attempting to do this, & he gives, under the form of Canons, the processes which all sound naturalists have long endeavoured to carry out. Very many of the figures are given to illustrate intermediate forms and variations.—

I would, therefore, suggest that the author himself should be consulted as to how many Plates would contain those figures, which he considers as most important.—

Ch. Darwin.
Down Augt 18th 1855.