Comments on: Darwin’s octopus

By: The Giant’s Shoulders #14 « The Dispersal of Darwin

The Giant’s Shoulders #14 « The Dispersal of Darwin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:42:04 +0000

[...] Richard has a few short posts about his time in Cambridge: “Darwin’s room,” “Darwin’s octopus,” and “Darwin’s beetles.” Just fun armchair history of science: Darwin was [...]

By: Cambridge Trip #7: Beetles, Finches and Barnacles at the University Museum of Zoology « The Dispersal of Darwin

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:14:23 +0000

[...] also has a post about the octopus up on The Red [...]

By: Richard Carter, FCD

Richard Carter, FCD — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:37:45 +0000

Postscript: According to the book A Voyage Round the World, which I picked up in Cambridge the same day:

The Cambridge University Museum of Zoology has in its collection two specimens of octopus, in alcohol, from St Jago. S. F. Harmer, Superintendent of the Museum of Zoology, who catalogued the specimens in 1901 [see date on label in my photo], notes that one was labelled no. 73, and Darwin had written that this was 'same as (50)'. Harmer suggests that 'The second specimen has no label, but is probably the no. 50 alluded to under 73.' The story is more convoluted because a third specimen is listed by Darwin as no. 122, 'St Jago same as (50)' under 'Feb.-March' 1832. So the unlabelled specimen could be either no. 50 or no. 122. Sadly, therefore, we cannot now be sure whether this [i.e. the specimen in my photo] is the very one that he first observed changing colour so magically.

In answer to Kevin Z's question in the comments above, I am guessing that the handwriting on the label is that of S. F. Harmer.

By: Richard Carter, FCD

Richard Carter, FCD — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:51:15 +0000

I’m almost certain that the label isn’t Darwin’s: his writing was usually a lot more untidy and spidery. It’s possible that it might be Henslow’s writing, as Henslow took receipt of most of Darwin’s specimens from the Beagle voyage. But I’m guessing the writing is actually that of a later curator.

By: Kevin Z

Kevin Z — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:08:34 +0000

Are the labels original, in Darwin’s own handwriting?

By: Michael D. Barton, FCD

Michael D. Barton, FCD — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:04:42 +0000

I thought the octopus was rather sexy – although it was just laying there, not doing much.

By: Richard Carter, FCD

Richard Carter, FCD — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:40:46 +0000

Thanks. But how about the octopus?

By: Karen James

Karen James — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:39:35 +0000

Sexy!