Charles Darwin's Zoology Notes and Specimen Lists from H. M. S. Beagle

Description

This transcription of notes made by Charles Darwin during the voyage of H. M. S. Beagle records his observations of the animals and plants that he encountered, and provides a valuable insight into the intellectual development of one of our most influential scientists. Darwin drew on many of these notes for his well known Journal of Researches (1839), but the majority of them have remained unpublished. This volume provides numerous examples of his unimpeachable accuracy in describing the wide range of animals seen in the course of his travels, and of his closely analytical approach towards every one of his observations. Only at the very end of the voyage were his first doubts about the immutability of species expressed consciously, but here are to be found the initial seeds of his theory of evolution, and of the fields of behavioural and ecological study of which he was one of the founding fathers.

'This well-conceived and beautifully constructed volume, which cost many years of painstaking work, will find a most welcome place among the expanding body of primary source material that is promoting Darwin Studies ... In short, Keynes has done an excellent job in producing a volume that promises to provide new insights into Darwin's empirical endeavours as well as theoretical development.' British Journal for the History of Science 'The volume includes a scholarly and sympathetic introduction, and transcripts of the relevant catalogues of species that Darwin made during the expedition. Keynes has previously rendered signal service to Darwinists of all persuasions with his account of the Beagle Record and by transcribing anew Darwin's Beagle Diary. Here is another distinguished contribution that will illuminate this special region of Darwin's heart.' Janet Browne, Nature 'Certainly this is to some extent a specialist book for zoologists, but because of the way that it is presented by the editor it is made available to all biologists and is in fact a most fascinating read. It is particularly carefully produced.' Q. Bone, Journal of the Marine Biological Association '... will be of great value to historians and Darwin scholars ... beautifully written.' Notes and Records