Ɛpsilon

To F. M. Wedgwood   5 March [1860–9]1

Down Bromley Kent

March 5th

My dear Fanny

I do not know the shell in question, but I have very little doubt that it is a Pholas, for I was assured in S. America that they were excellent eating.2 The shell lives in holes in rock. It is very delicate & fragile, of a whitish colour; & the animal’s body protrudes at the two ends.—

I am extremely much obliged for the very interesting specimens of the blind cave animals: after I have examined them (& I am in no hurry, though particularly glad to see them) I will present them in your name to the British Museum, for they are too good for a private collection. The fish in itself, besides its blindness, is a very remarkable animal.—3

Emma tells me she has already written to say how glad we shall be to see you here, & with my best thanks, I am yours affectionately | Ch. Darwin

1
The year range is established from the year of Frances Wedgwood’s return from her first visit to the United States (see Wedgwood and Wedgwood 1980, pp. 267–9), and from the address, which is one that CD used between 1855 and 1869. A close family member dated the letter 1868.
2
Pholas is a genus of marine bivalve molluscs. CD was in South America between 1832 and 1835 (Correspondence vol. 1).
3
CD referred to blind cave animals in Origin, pp. 137–9. He was gathering more information in 1860, and expanded his discussion in the third edition (Origin 3d ed., pp. 154–7; see also Correspondence vol. 8). Frances visited the United States in 1859 (see n. 1, above) and 1865 (see Correspondence vol. 13, letters from Asa Gray, 15 and 17 May 1865, 24 July 1865, and letter to Asa Gray, 15 August [1865]).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-5984F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-5984F