Charles W. Peach and Darwin's barnacles
Lyall I. Anderson and Mathew Lowe
Addresses for correspondence Lyall I. Anderson, Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EQ. lia23@cam.ac.uk
Mathew Lowe, University Museum of Zoology Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ.mwl34@cam.ac.uk
Abstract
The University Museum of Zoology (Cambridge) holds Charles Darwin's collection of microscope slide dissections prepared during his studies of living barnacles. This collection was assembled through an extensive network of museum contacts and amateur collectors. We examine in detail the role of one of these collectors, Charles W. Peach, a coastguard in the Customs Service. Detailed study of the slide collection reveals an internal chronology of manufacture against which timelines of Peach and Darwin's activities can be compared. Four distinct phases of slide fixative are recognized and subsequent alterations to Darwin's original collection can be demonstrated. The internal chronology also reveals that Darwin dissected and mounted barnacles as he received material, rather than working systematically through taxonomic groups. Aside from Peach, other suppliers of barnacles included Samuel Stutchbury, Joseph Hooker and Robert Damon.
© The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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