48 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES 1875- 



the table on his head. In this we have another of 

 those perplexing contradictions with which the whole 

 subject appears to be teeming. I do hope next winter 

 to settle for myself the simple issue between Ghost 

 versus Goose. 



Very sincerely and most respectfully yours, 



Geo. J. Komanes. 



To C. Darwin, Esq. 



18 Cornwall Terrace. 



Professor Hackel's paper on the MedusaB is called 

 ' Beitrag zur Naturgeschichte der Hydromedusen ' 

 (Leipzig, 1865). Professor Huxley has lent me his 

 copy, but says he wants it returned in a week or 

 two. I ought certainly to have the work by me next 

 summer, so I thought that if you happen to have it 

 and can spare it till next autumn, I need not send 

 to Germany for it, remembering what you said when 

 I last saw you. I should also much like to see the 

 other paper of Hackel's about cutting up the ova of 

 Medusas. 



I have an idea that you are afraid I am neglecting 

 Pangenesis for Medusas. If so, I should like to 

 assure you that such is not the case. Last year I 

 gave more time to the former than to the latter 

 inquiry ; and although the results proved very dispro- 

 portionate, this was only due to the fact that the one 

 line of work was more difficult than the other. How- 

 ever, I always expected that the first year would 

 require to be spent in breaking up the ground, and I 

 am quite satisfied with the experience which this 



