My dear Sir

I beg to thank you most sincerely for your magnificent group of your Xenobalanus globicipitis. It so happens that I received a year ago some specimens taken from off a Porpoise north of Madeira,¹ & was particularly interested in making out the same affinity to Coronula, as you specify.— From its affinity, also, to Tubicinella, I had called it in M.S. Siphonicella, & unfortunately have so referred to it in my volume going through the press, & in Lyells anniversary address to the Geolog. Soc. of London published last year.² But as my name was not accompanied with a description, (only its affinities being mentioned) it has no authority. Will you kindly inform me soon where your name Xenobalanus is published,³ that I may put this name in the Corrigenda to my volume?—⁴

I am, also, much obliged for Reinhardts Paper on the Lithotrya;⁵ unfortunately I cannot read it, but the Plate is so good that it tells its own story, & first led me to understand the process of boring in Lithotrya.—⁶

You will, I hope, before this have received back all your valuable fossil specimens. Believe, I shall always feel grateful for the kind confidence you have reposed in me. As soon as my volume is published I will send you a Copy.—⁷

With sincere respect | Yours faithfully & obliged | Charles Darwin

May I present some of the specimens of the XenoBalanus to the British Museum?