Ɛpsilon

To A. A. Gould   29 February [1852]

Down Farnborough Kent

Feb. 29th.

My dear Sir

I trouble you with this short note to say that I have sent in the same packet with some books to Prof. Agassiz, a copy of a small volume on Fossil Lepadidæ.—1 You have so very kindly assisted me with specimens, that you have a perfect right to copies of all publications on cirripedes, but as I know you are a member of the Ray Society, & so will shortly receive my work on the recent Pedunculated Cirripedes, I have not sent you a copy, as so many persons have kindly obliged me, to whom I am very anxious to send copies, & for whom I have barely a sufficient number.—2

I am now at work on the sessile species; & hope to complete my work at about the close of the present year. Neither my abilities or health allow me to work with ordinary quickness.—3

Your specimens of Ibla from the Burmah Empire,4 were of the greatest possible value to me, owing to the very singular sexual peculiarities of that species. This note, obviously requires no answer: I send it, merely in fear that you should think that I had overlooked your kindness.

With much respect | Pray believe me | Yours truly obliged | Charles Darwin

1
Gould’s name was first on CD’s list of presentation copies of Fossil Cirripedia (1851) (MS attached to CD’s copy of Living Cirripedia (1854) in the Cambridge University Library).
2
CD had received twenty author’s copies of Living Cirripedia (1851) (see letter to Edwin Lankester, 30 January [1852]). Gould’s name was originally sixth on CD’s list of presentation copies, followed by ‘R. Soc’ to indicate that Gould was a member of the Ray Society. CD subsequently deleted the whole entry, presumably because he decided not to send a copy to Gould (MS attached to CD’s copy of Living Cirripedia (1854) in the Cambridge University Library).
3
The two remaining Cirripedia volumes were not completed until September 1854 (see ‘Journal’; Correspondence vol. 5, Appendix I).
4
Ibla cumingii (Living Cirripedia (1851): 183). CD dissected two specimens sent by Gould, which, like four specimens from Hugh Cuming, were females. Within the sack of each of them was attached a worm-like body, which CD identified as the male of the species (ibid., p. 189).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.3 that you] before omitted point
3.3 should] altered from ‘shd’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-1475,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-1475