I consider perfect, even better than yours by Chevalier. N.B. I have got a
1/8 inch object-glass, and it is grand. I have been getting on well with
my beloved Cirripedia, and get more skilful in dissection. I have worked
out the nervous system pretty well in several genera, and made out their
ears and nostrils (27/4. For the olfactory sacs see Darwin's "Monograph of
the Cirripedia," 1851, page 52.), which were quite unknown. I have lately
got a bisexual cirripede, the male being microscopically small and
parasitic within the sack of the female. I tell you this to boast of my
species theory, for the nearest closely allied genus to it is, as usual,
hermaphrodite, but I had observed some minute parasites adhering to it, and
these parasites I now can show are supplemental males, the male organs in
the hermaphrodite being unusually small, though perfect and containing
zoosperms: so we have almost a polygamous animal, simple females alone
being wanting. I never should have made this out, had not my species
theory convinced me, that an hermaphrodite species must pass into a
bisexual species by insensibly small stages; and here we have it, for the
male organs in the hermaphrodite are beginning to fail, and independent
males ready formed. But I can hardly explain what I mean, and you will
perhaps wish my barnacles and species theory al Diavolo together. But I
don't care what you say, my species theory is all gospel. We have had only
one party here: viz., of the Lyells, Forbes, Owen, and Ramsay, and we both
missed you and Falconer very much...I know more of your history than you
will suppose, for Miss Henslow most good-naturedly sent me a packet of your
letters, and she wrote me so nice a little note that it made me quite
proud. I have not heard of anything in the scientific line which would
interest you. Sir H. De la Beche (27/5. The Presidential Address
delivered by De la Beche before the Geological Society in 1848 ("Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume IV., "Proceedings," page xxi, 1848).) gave a very
long and rather dull address; the most interesting part was from Sir J.
Ross. Mr. Beete Jukes figured in it very prominently: it really is a very