The Beak Of The Finch

Description

For all that has been said and written about it, evolution has always been - necessarily - theoretical, a matter of fossils demonstrating slow change over many millenia. But, for 20 years, in a continuing study, biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant have been observing the various species of finches on a tiny volcanic island in the Galapagos. They now claim that they have actually seen evolution taking place before their eyes. This book tells the Grants' story, and describes how their findings have led scientists into further study of evolution.

A book that reads as easily as a good novel, while adroitly conveying information -- John Gribbin * Sunday Times * Jonathan Weiner's powerful and elegant book is a meditation on Darwinism, from its beginnings to our current planetary crisis... At its core is a study of the changes that are still happening to the 13 finch species that inhabit the Galapagos Islands. They are famous ( and fabled) birds, whose eccentric adaptations to the raw, unformed habitats of these young volcanoes gave Darwin one of the crucial clues in the development of his theory of "the Origin of the Species by means of Natural Selection" -- Richard Mabey * Independent on Sunday * No other book has displayed so dramatically the tiny but momentous changes that are taking place all around us in the living world. Darwin would be cheering -- Derwent May * Evening Standard * The subtle interweaving of historical fact, hard scientific detail and humorous anecdote makes this the kind of popular science writing to which many authors aspire but which so few achieve * Economist *