From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Richard Owen
Date:
[1849?]
Source of text:
Houghton Library, Harvard University (Autograph File, D)
Summary:
CD proposes to call for tea if he is well enough on Thursday.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
CD proposes to call for tea if he is well enough on Thursday.
Has altered and added to HES’s list [compiled for Bibliographia zoologiæ et geologiæ, edited by Louis Agassiz and enlarged by HES, (1848–54)].
On zoological nomenclature CD cites a case in which he believes more harm than good would be done by following the rule of priority. Thinks the rule of the first describer’s name being attached in perpetuity to a species has been the greatest curse to natural history. Every genus of cirripedes has a half-dozen names and not one careful description.
Sends a paper he once wrote [missing] on the subject [of zoological nomenclature].
Responds to CD’s two objections to the principles involved in the "Rules of zoological nomenclature": (1) that strict enforcement of the rule of priority would cause much inconvenience, and (2) attaching name of the first describer in perpetuity puts a premium on careless description by "species mongers".
Will return books, and asks for more.
Had hoped to sent specimens by carrier that day; intends to sent them next Thursday.
Thanks for German scientific newspaper: two articles interested him.
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Arranges to make a daguerreotype of JSH. Discusses beaver remains being sent to him by JSH and that a turtle sent by JSH to the Royal College of Surgeons has been received by Owen and will be returned in due course.
Elizabeth Baily will be pleased to see him on the day mentioned. Also agrees with him to present the bust of her brother to the R.A.S. JH may have casts of the bust.
Sends a copy of the Astronomical Remembrancer to which he referred. The garnet star is BAC 7582. Encloses a list of variable stars and comments on the proximity of two of them.
As JH is compiling a complete catalogue of variable stars, wonders if he has noticed the one listed in the Berlin maps. Has recently made a cometary summary.
May use his cometary summary by all means; believes that J. G. Galle's is the most complete but his method requires improvement. Thinks he has traced the history of Halley's Comet and will be writing a paper on the subject.