PREFATORY NOTICE TO THE 

 ILLUSTRATED EDITION 



This work was described, on its first appearance, by a writer 

 in the Quarterly Reviezv as " One of the most interesting 

 narratives of voyaging that it has fallen to our lot to take up, 

 and one which must always occupy a distinguished place in 

 the history of scientific navigation." 



This prophecy has been amply verified by experience ; the 

 extraordinary minuteness and accuracy of Mr. Darwin's obser- 

 vations, combined with the charm and simplicity of his 

 descriptions, have ensured the popularity of this book with all 

 classes of readers — and that popularity has even increased in 

 recent years. No attempt, however, has hitherto been made 

 to produce an illustrated edition of this valuable work : 

 numberless places and objects are mentioned and described, 

 but the difficulty of obtaining authentic and original representa- 

 tions of them drawn for the purpose has never been overcome 

 until now. 



Most of the views given in this work are from sketches 

 made on the spot by Mr. Pritchett, with Mr. Darwin's book by 

 his side. Some few of the others are taken from engravings 

 which Mr. Darwin had himself selected for their interest as 

 illustrating his voyage, and which have been kindly lent by 

 his son. 



Mr. Pritchett's name is well known in connection with the 

 voyages of the Sunbeam and Wanderer, and it is believed that 

 the illustrations, which have been chosen and verified with the 

 utmost care and pains, will greatly add to the value and 

 interest of the " Voyage of a Naturalist." 



JOHN MURRAY. 

 Dec. i88q. 



