Voyage of the Beagle

by Darwin, Charles

• ISBN13: 9780486424897
• ISBN10: 0486424898
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-11-30
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

Classic of adventure travel and cornerstone in the development of evolutionary theory recounts Darwin's five-year sojourn in South America, where he made the observations that led to his concept of natural selection, basing many of his conclusions upon his study of the unique creatures of the Galapagos.

Author Biography

Charles Darwin was born in England in 1809 and attended the University of Edinburgh to study medicine. When he decided against that vocation, he enrolled at Cambridge where he earned a degree in theology. During an expedition to Africa and South America, Darwin continued his studies in natural science and began writing about his theories of natural selection. His work led to the publication of On the Origin of Species, a book that changed the world.

Charles Darwin: Original Thinking
Each generation of students comes to Darwin's epoch-making works, several of which are the basis of our publishing program in biology and related fields: The Essential Darwin, 2006; The Descent of Man, 2010; The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, 2006; and On the Origin of the Species, 2006.

In the Author's Own Words:

"A mathematician is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat which isn't there."

"I feel most deeply that this whole question of Creation is too profound for human intellect. A dog might as well speculate on the mind of Newton! Let each man hope and believe what he can."

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."

"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved."

"Man with all his noble qualities, with sympathy which feels for the most debased, with benevolence which extends not only to other men but to the humblest living creature, with his god-like intellect which has penetrated into the movements and constitution of the solar system — with all these exalted powers — Man still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin." — Charles Darwin

Table of Contents

Chapter I	11	(17)
Porto Praya
Ribeira Grande
Atmospheric Dust with Infusoria
Habits of a Sea-slug and Cuttle-fish
St. Paul's Rocks, non-volcanic
Singular Incrustations
Insects the first Colonists of Islands
Fernando Noronha
Bahia
Burnished Rocks
Habits of a Diodon
Pelagic Confervae and Infusoria
Causes of discoloured Sea
Chapter II	28	(20)
Rio de Janeiro
Excursion north of Cape Frio
Great Evaporation
Slavery
Botofogo Bay
Terrestrial Planariae
Clouds on the Corcovado
Heavy Rain
Musical Frogs
Phosphorescent Insects
Elater, springing powers of
Blue Haze
Noise made by a Butterfly
Entomology
Ants
Wasp killing a Spider
Parasitical Spider
Artifices of an Epeira
Gregarious Spider
Spider with an unsymmetrical Web
Chapter III	48	(22)
Monte Video
Maldonado
Excursion to R. Polanco
Lazo and Bolas
Partridges
Absence of Trees
Deer
Capybara, or River Hog
Tucutuco
Molothrus, cuckoo-like habits
Tyrant-flycatcher
Mocking-bird
Carrion Hawks
Tubes formed by Lightning
House struck
Chapter IV	70	(18)
Rio Negro
Estancias attacked by the Indians
Salt Lakes
Flamingoes
R. Negro to R. Colorado
Sacred Tree
Patagonian Hare
Indian Families
General Rosas
Proceed to Bahia Blanca
Sand Dunes
Negro Lieutenant
Bahia Blanca
Saline Incrustations
Punta Alta
Zorillo
Chapter V	88	(24)
Bahia Blanca
Geology
Numerous gigantic extinct Quadrupeds
Recent Extinction
Longevity of Species
Large Animals do not require a luxuriant vegetation
Southern Africa
Siberian Fossils
Two Species of Ostrich
Habits of Oven-bird
Armadilloes
Venomous Snake, Toad, Lizard
Hybernation of Animals
Habits of Sea-Pen
Indian Wars and Massacres
Arrow-head, antiquarian Relic
Chapter VI	112	(16)
Set out for Buenos Ayres
Rio Sauce
Sierra Ventana
Third Posta
Driving Horses
Bolas
Partridges and Foxes
Features of the Country
Long-legged Plover
Teru-tero
Hail-storm
Natural Enclosures in the Sierra Tapalguen
Flesh of Puma
Meat Diet
Guardia del Monte
Effects of Cattle on the Vegetation
Cardoon
Buenos Ayres
Corral where Cattle are slaughtered
Chapter VII	128	(19)
Excursion to St. Fe
Thistle-Beds
Habits of the Bizcacha
Little Owl
Saline Streams
Level Plains
Mastodon
St. Fe
Change in Landscape
Geology
Tooth of extinct Horse
Relation of the Fossil and Recent Quadrupeds of North and South America
Effects of a great Drought
Parana
Habits of the Jaguar
Scissor-beak
Kingfisher, Parrot, and Scissor-tail
Revolution
Buenos Ayres
State of Government
Chapter VIII	147	(35)
Excursion to Colonia del Sacramiento
Value of an Estancia
Cattle, how counted
Singular Breed of Oxen
Perforated Pebbles
Shepherd Dogs
Horses broken-in, Gauchos riding
Character of Inhabitants
Rio Plata
Flocks of Butterflies
Aeronaut Spiders
Phosphorescence of the Sea
Port Desire
Guanaco
Port St. Julian
Geology of Patagonia
Fossil gigantic Animal
Types of Organization constant
Change in the Zoology of America
Causes of Extinction
Chapter IX	182	(27)
Santa Cruz
Expedition up the River
Indians
Immense Streams of Basaltic Lava
Fragments not transported by the River
Excavation of the Valley
Condor, habits of
Cordillera
Erratic Boulders of great size
Indian Relics
Return to the Ship
Falkland Islands
Wild Horses, Cattle, Rabbits
Wolf-like Fox
Fire made of Bones
Manner of hunting Wild Cattle
Geology
Streams of Stones
Scenes of Violence
Penguin
Geese
Eggs of Doris
Compound Animals
Chapter X	209	(27)
Tierra del Fuego, first arrival
Good Success Bay
An Account of the Fuegians on board
Interview with the Savages
Scenery of the Forests
Cape Horn
Wigwam Cove
Miserable Condition of the Savages
Famines
Cannibals
Matricide
Religious Feelings
Great Gale
Beagle Channel
Ponsonby Sound
Build Wigwams and settle the Fuegians
Bifurcation of the Beagle Channel
Glaciers
Return to the Ship
Second Visit in the Ship to the Settlement
Equality of Condition amongst the Natives
Chapter XI	236	(21)
Strait of Magellan
Port Famine
Ascent of Mount Tarn
Forests
Edible Fungus
Zoology
Great Sea-weed
Leave Tierra del Fuego
Climate
Fruit-trees and Productions of the Southern Coasts
Height of Snow-line on the Cordillera
Descent of Glaciers to the Sea
Icebergs formed
Transportal of Boulders
Climate and Productions of the Antarctic Islands
Preservation of Frozen Carcasses
Recapitulation
Chapter XII	257	(20)
Valparaiso
Excursion to the Foot of the Andes
Structure of the Land
Ascend the Bell of Quillota
Shattered Masses of Greenstone
Immense Valleys
Mines
State of Miners
Santiago
Hot-baths of Cauquenes
Gold-mines
Grinding-Mills
Perforated Stones
Habits of the Puma
El Turco and Tapacolo
Humming-birds
Chapter XIII	277	(18)
Chiloe
General Aspect
Boat Excursion
Native Indians
Castro
Tame Fox
Ascend San Pedro
Chonos Archipelago
Peninsula of Tres Montes
Granitic Range
Boat-wrecked Sailors
Low's Harbour
Wild Potato
Formation of Peat
Myopotamus, Otter and Mice
Cheucau and Barking-bird
Opetiorhynchus
Singular Character of Ornithology
Petrels
Chapter XIV	295	(22)
San Carlos, Chiloe
Osorno in Eruption, contemporaneously with Aconcagua and Coseguina
Ride to Cucao
Impenetrable Forests
Valdivia
Indians
Earthquake
Concepcion
Great Earthquake
Rocks fissured
Appearance of the former Towns
The Sea Black and Boiling
Direction of the Vibrations
Stones twisted round
Great Wave
Permanent Elevation of the Land
Area of Volcanic Phenomena
The connection between the Elevatory and Eruptive Forces
Causes of Earthquakes
Slow Elevation of Mountain-chains
Chapter XV	317	(24)
Valparaiso
Portillo Pass
Sagacity of Mules
Mountain-torrents
Mines, how discovered
Proofs of the gradual Elevation of the Cordillera
Effect of Snow on Rocks
Geological Structure of the two main Ranges
Their distinct Origin and Upheaval
Great subsidence
Red Snow
Winds
Pinnacles of Snow
Dry and clear Atmosphere
Electricity
Pampas
Zoology of the opposite Sides of the Andes
Locusts
Great Bugs
Mendoza
Uspallata Pass
Silicified trees buried as they grew
Incas Bridge
Badness of the Passes exaggerated
Cumbre
Casuchas
Valparaiso
Chapter XVI	341	(35)
Coast-road to Coquimbo
Great Loads carried by the Miners
Coquimbo
Earthquake
Step-formed Terraces
Absence of recent Deposits
contemporaneousness of the Tertiary Formations
Excursion up the Valley
Road to Guasco
Deserts
Valley of Copiapo
Rain and Earthquakes
Hydrophobia
The Despoblado
Indian Ruins
Probable change of Climate
River-bed arched by an Earthquake
Cold Gales of Wind
Noises from a Hill
Iquique
Salt Alluvium
Nitrate of Soda
Lima
Unhealthy Country
Ruins of Callao, overthrown by an Earthquake
Recent subsidence
Elevated Shells on San Lorenzo, their decomposition
Plain with embedded Shells and fragments of Pottery
Antiquity of the Indian Race
Chapter XVII	376	(30)
Galapagos Archipelago
The whole Group Volcanic
Number of Craters
Leafless Bushes
Colony at Charles Island
James Island
Salt-lake in Crater
Natural History of the Group
Ornithology, curious Finches
Reptiles
Great Tortoises, habits of
Marine Lizard, feeds on Sea-weed
Terrestrial Lizard, burrowing habits, herbivorous
Importance of Reptiles in the Archipelago
Fish, Shells, Insects
Botany
American Type of Organization
Differences in the Species or Races on different Islands
Tameness of the Birds
Fear of Man, an acquired Instinct
Chapter XVIII	406	(29)
Pass through the Low Archipelago
Tahiti
Aspect
Vegetation on the Mountains
View of Eimeo
Excursion into the Interior
Profound Ravines
Succession of Waterfalls
Number of wild useful Plants
Temperance of the Inhabitants
Their moral state
Parliament convened
New Zealand
Bay of Islands
Hippahs
Excursion to Waimate
Missionary Establishment
English Weeds now run wild
Waiomio
Funeral of a New Zealand Woman
Sail for Australia
Chapter XIX	435	(21)
Sydney
Excursion to Bathurst
Aspect of the Woods
Party of Natives
Gradual extinction of the Aborigines
Infection generated by associated Men in health
Blue Mountains
View of the grand gulf-like Valleys
Their origin and formation
Bathurst, general civility of the Lower Orders
State of Society
Van Diemen's Land
Hobart Town
Aborigines all banished
Mount Wellington
King George's Sound
Cheerless Aspect of the country
Bald Head, calcareous casts of branches of Trees
Party of Natives
Leave Australia
Chapter XX	456	(30)
Keeling Island
Singular appearance
Scanty Flora
Transport of Seeds
Birds and Insects
Ebbing and flowing Springs
Fields of dead Coral
Stone transported in the roots of Trees
Great Crab
Stinging Corals
Coraleating Fish
Coral Formations
Lagoon Islands, or Atolls
Depth at which reef-building Corals can live
Vast Areas interspersed with low Coral Islands
Subsidence of their foundations
Barrier Reefs
Fringing Reefs
Conversion of Fringing Reefs into Barrier Reefs, and into Atolls
Evidence of changes in Level
Breaches in Barrier Reefs
Maldiva Atolls; their peculiar structure
Dead and submerged Reefs
Areas of subsidence and elevation
Distribution of Volcanoes
Subsidence slow, and vast in amount
Chapter XXI	486	(25)
Mauritius, beautiful appearance of Great crateriform ring of Mountains
Hindoos
St. Helena
History of the changes in the Vegetation
Cause of the extinction of Land-shells
Ascension
Variation in the imported Rats
Volcanic Bombs
Beds of Infusoria
Bahia
Brazil
Splendour of Tropical Scenery
Pernambuco
Singular Reef
Slavery
Return to England
Retrospect on our Voyage
Index	511