1852-54 DARWIN'S CIRRIPEDIA 407 



that the town should reap the full benefits of 

 the water supply. For that purpose the supply 

 must be directed, by combined sewage works, 

 irrespective of private and public streets, so as 

 to carry off the sewerage from every, even the 

 humblest dwelling.' Owen concludes with a 

 promise of some further remarks on the ' eco- 

 nomical and profitable results of the water and 

 sewage works viewed merely as an investment.' 



In July, Charles Darwin wrote a letter to Owen 

 on the subject of the Cirripedia. 9 Their place in 

 the system had occasioned considerable doubt and 

 difference of opinion amongst zoologists, but 

 Darwin's researches went far to settle the vexed 

 question of their zoological position, and so the 

 following letter may be found of interest : — 



Down, Farnborough, Kent : July 17 [1854]. 



1 Dear Owen, — . ... I cannot tell you how 

 much gratified I am at what you say about the Cirri- 

 pedia. I really feel rewarded for more labour than 

 you would readily believe it possible could have been 

 bestowed on the work. I have, however, made a 

 mess of it, for I got so frightened at the thoughts of 

 all the seaside species, that I have not illustrated and 

 given in nearly detail enough my anatomical work, 



9 A well-defined natural are scarcely any seas without 



group of marine invertebrate some of the species, as they 



animals, commonly known as frequently fix themselves on to 



' barnacles. 5 They are very floating bodies, 

 widely diffused — in fact, there 



