Barnacles

The great Charles Darwin is well known for his meticulous work on the biology of barnacles. The romantic in me imagines him working away happily on the task in his study at Down House. A letter to W.D. Fox dated 24 October 1852 suggests otherwise!


"I am at work on the second vol. of the Cirripedia, of which creatures I am wonderfully tired: I hate a Barnacle as no man ever did before, not even a Sailor in a slow-sailing ship. My first vol. is out: the only part worth looking at is on the sexes of Ibla & Scalpellum; I hope by next summer to have done with my tedious work."