Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Round the World

This rare second edition of Journal of researches... is the final definitive text of Darwin's "first literary child," revised to reflect his developing ideas on evolution. It chronicles his historic five-year voyage on the Beagle to Brazil, Argentina, Tierra del Fuego, Chile, Peru, the Galapagos Islands, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries and islands along the way. This journey was the most important event in Darwin's intellectual life. The appearance of this record was a turning point in the history of biological science and marked the beginnings of a whole new conception of the origin of the various species of life on earth. The book's commercial success was due both to the exciting discoveries during the voyages of the Beagle and to Darwin's humorous observations and stories. He recounts flinging marine iguanas into the ocean, only to have them clumsily return, an action repeated continuously in order to conclude that it is their hereditary fear of sharks that explains why they refused to remain in the ocean. Commissioned by London publisher John Murray, this second edition of Darwin's expedition journal provides early insight into his evolutionary thought.