G2 LIFE OF 



specimens became evident, the splendid collections of 

 Messrs. Stutchbury, Cuming, and others were placed at 

 his disposal, and he was permitted to open and to dissect 

 unique specimens of great value. In fact, almost every 

 naturalist of note who had any knowledge of the subject 

 freely aided him, and the result was a masterly series of 

 finely illustrated volumes ; two on the living Cirripedia, 

 issued by the Ray Society in 1851 and 1854; and two 

 on the fossil Cirripedia of Great Britain, by the Palaeonto- 

 graphical Society, published in the same years. There is 

 evidence in these volumes that careful observations on 

 the growth of these creatures had been made as far 

 back as the visit to the Galapagos Islands in 1835. In 

 many respects these works are as masterly as any the 

 author ever wrote. Considering the previous obscurity 

 of the subject, the difficulties attending the research, 

 the almost entire lack at that time of any general micro- 

 scopical knowledge of tissues, and especially of those 

 of embryos, Darwin's success is marvellous. The details 

 are too technical for statement here, but any one with a 

 zoological training, who studies the strange complication 

 of the reproductive systems, and the remarkable trans- 

 formations which the young undergo, as told in these 

 volumes, will appreciate more than ever the breadth and 

 the solidity of the basis of patiently acquired knowledge 

 which Charles Darwin had accumulated while his " Origin 

 of Species " was taking shape. 



At the anniversary meeting of the Royal Society in 

 November, 1853, a royal medal was presented to the 

 author of "Coral Reefs" and the "Memoir on the 

 Cirripedia," the president, the Earl of Rosse, eulogizing 



