vi PREFACE. 



being written. Moreover many of his researches were dropped 

 only to be resumed after years had elapsed. Thus a chrono- 

 logical record of his work would be a patchwork, from which 

 it would be difficult to disentangle the history of any given 

 subject. The Table of Contents will show how I have tried 

 to avoid this result. It will be seen, for instance, that after 

 Chapter VIII. a break occurs ; the story turns back from 

 1854 to 1831 in order that the Evolutionary chapters which 

 follow may tell a continuous story. In the same way the 

 Botanical Work which occupied so much of my father's time 

 during the latter part of his life is treated separately in 

 Chapters XVI. and XVTL 



With regard to Chapter IV., in which I have attempted to 

 give an account of my father's manner of working, I may be 

 allowed to say that I acted as his assistant during the last 

 eight years of his life, and had therefore an opportunity of 

 knowing something of his habits and methods. 



My acknowledgments are gladly made to the publishers 

 of the Century Magazine, who have courteously given me 

 the use of one of their illustrations for the heading of 

 Chapter IV. 



FRANCIS DARWIN. 



Wyohfield, Cambridge, 

 August, 1892. 



NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



It is pleasure to me to acknowledge the kindness of Messrs. 

 Elliott & Fry in allowing me to reproduce the fine photograph 

 which appears as the frontispiece to the present issue. 



FRANCIS DARWIN. 



"VVychfield, Cambridge, 

 April, 1902. 



