PREFACE. 



I TT/VVE stated in the preface to the first Edition of this work, 

 and in the Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle, that it "svas in 

 consequence of a wish expressed by Captain Fitz Roy, of having 

 some scientific person on board, accompanied by an offer from 

 him of giving up part of his own accommodations, that I volun- 

 teered my services, which received, through the kindness of the 

 hydrographer. Captain Beaufort, the sanction of the Lords of 

 the Admiralty. As I feel that the opportunities which I en- 

 joyed of studying the Natural History of the different countries 

 we visited, have been wholly due to Captain Fitz Eoy, I hope I 

 may here be permitted to repeat my expression of gratitude 

 to him ; and to add that, during the five years we were together, 

 I received from him the most cordial friendship and steady 

 assistance. Both to Captain Fitz Roy and to all the Officers of 

 t!ie Beagle * I shall ever feel most thankful for the undeviating 

 kindness with which I M'as treated during our long voyage. 



This volume contains, in the form of a Journal, a history of 

 our voyage, and a sketch of those observations in Katural 

 History and Geology^, which I think will possess some interest 

 for the general reader. I have in this edition largely condensed 

 and corrected some parts, and have added a little to others, in 

 order to render the volume more fitted for popular reading; but 

 I trust that naturalists will remember, that they must refer for 

 details to the larger publications, which comprise the scientific 

 results of the Expedition. The Zoology of the Voyage of 

 the Beagle includes an account of the Fossil Mammalia, by 

 Professor Owen ; of the Living Mammalia, by Mr. "Water- 

 house ; of the Birds, by Mr. Gould ; of the Fish, by the 

 Rev. L. Jenyns ; and of the Reptiles, by Mr. Bell. X have 

 appended to the descriptions of each species an account of its 

 habits and range. These works, which I owe to the high 



* I must take this opportunity of returning my sincere thanks to Mr. Bynoe, 

 the surgeon of the Beagle, for his very kind attention to me when I was ill 

 it Valparaiso. 



