| Citation |
Darwin, C.R., 1977, Early notebook, containing observations made at Edinburgh, March 1827.. p. 285-291. In P.H. Barrett (ed.) The collected papers of Charles Darwin. Vol.2. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. |
| Quote |
"Charles Darwin, as an 18-year old student of medicine at the University of Edinburgh, dissected a specimen of @Cyclopterus lumpus@ on March 16, 1827. His
notes on this (Ref XXX, see below), his first known writing of a scientific character, document his keen appreciation of details, coupled with an early ability to put his observation in a general context. The note in question reads as follows: "Procured from the black rock at Lieth a large @Cyclopterus lumpus@ (common lump fish). Length from snout to tail 23 1/2 inches, girth 19 1/2. It had evidently come to the rock to spawn & was there left stranded by the tide; its ovaria contained a great mass of spawn of a rose colour. Disssected it with Dr. Grant. It appeared very free from disease & had no intestinal worms; its back however was covered with small crustaceous animals.-Eyes small. Hence probably does not inhabit deep seas? Stomach large . Liver without gall-bladder. Kidneys situated some way from the Vertebrae: an unusual fact in cartilaginous fish. Air bladder was not seen. Brain very small: the optic nerves being nearly as large as the spinal cord, neither the brain or spinal matter nearly filling its cavity. The valves in the heart were very distinct; the peduncle strong. The body was not covered with scales, but slimy & remarkably thick. The sucker on its breast was of a white colour. I believe it is generally a reddish yellow? The plebs differ
whether it is edible." |