4o8 
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 
