408 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. XII. 



which is the only part of the work which has really 

 interested me. I find the mere systematic part 

 infinitely tedious. I can, however, honestly state 

 that all I have said on the males of Ibla and 

 Scalpellum is the result of the most careful and 

 repeated observation. If I am ever proved wrong 

 in it, I shall be surprised. But my pen is running 

 away with me ; it is your fault, for I have been 

 so much pleased with what you say. Making out 

 the homologies of the shell and external parts of 

 Cirripedes, as I fully believe correctly (and I am 

 glad to say that Dana admits the view), gave me 

 great satisfaction. But I must not bore you with 

 my triumph. I have been very seldom in London 

 for the last year. When I was last there I called at 

 the College to see you, but you were just gone out. 

 Pray believe me, in a great state of triumph, pride, 

 vanity and conceit, &c, &c., &c, 



' Yours sincerely, 



' Charles Darwin.' 



In December 1854 Owen was offered and de- 

 clined the chair of Anatomy in the University of 

 Edinburgh, which was rendered vacant by the 

 death of Edward Forbes. Writing to his sister 

 (December 20), he says : ' Poor Edward Forbes! 

 There was never a scientific man whose unexpected 

 death caused a more general or sincere regret. . . . 

 I declined the offer to succeed him, as I was by 

 no means sure that after fulfilling the duties of 



