34 THE MEANING OF EVOLUTION 
is ever widely enough acquainted with the animal 
world to classify all the specimens gathered on such 
an expedition. In accordance with custom, Darwin 
began distributing his collections among specialists. 
Each of these was to identify and describe, to name, 
if necessary, the kind of material he knew best. 
Among others, Darwin had a considerable collection 
of barnacles gathered from boats and wharves in all 
parts of the world. As he could find no one suffi- 
ciently acquainted with these creatures to classify 
them he decided reluctantly to work them up him- 
self. For about eight years much of his spare time was 
given to this painfully exacting work. He expresses 
himself as fearing it was a waste of time. Few sys- 
tematic workers will agree with him. He did his work 
so well that it has been unnecessary for anyone to do 
it again. In addition it gained him the esteem of a 
new circle of scientists and that a decidedly exclusive 
circle. 
The publication of these books did much for Dar- 
win. His narrative of the voyage gained the good 
will of cultured England in general. The book on 
coral reefs won the geologists. His “Manual of the 
Cirrhipedia” (as the barnacle book was called) se- 
cured the attention of systematic zodlogists. The 
time was not far distant when he would need every 
aid possible toward gaining and keeping the regard 
