1844— 1S58] DE LA BECIIE 65 



parasites I now can show are supplemental males, the male Letter 27 

 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 be- 

 ginning 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 x gave a very long and rather dull address; 

 the most interesting part was from Sir J. Ross. Mr. Becte 

 Jukes figured in it very prominently : it really is a very nice 

 quality in Sir Henry, the manner in which he pushes forward 

 his subordinates.- Jukes has since read what was considered 

 a very valuable paper. The man, not content with moustaches, 

 now sports an entire beard, and I am sure thinks himself like 

 Jupiter tonans. There was a short time since a not very 

 creditable discussion at a meeting of the Royal Society, where 

 Owen fell foul of Mantell with fury and contempt about 

 belemnites. What wretched doings come from the order 

 of fame ; the love of truth alone would never make one man 

 attack another bitterly. My paper is full, so I must wish you 

 with all my heart farewell. Heaven grant that your health 

 may keep good. 



1 The Presidential Address delivered by De la Heche before the 

 Geological Society in 1848 (Quart. Journ. Geo/. Soc, Vol. IV., Proceeding r, 

 p. xxi, 1848). Sir Henry Thomas De la Beche (1796 — 1855) was appointed 

 Director of the Ordnance Geological Survey in 1832 ; his private under- 

 taking to make a geological survey of the mining districts of Devon 

 and Cornwall led the Government to found the National Survey. He 

 was also instrumental in forming the Museum of Practical Geology in 

 Jermyn Street. 



5 



