PREFACE. 



i HAVE stated in the preface to the first Edition of this work, 

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

 was in consequence of a wish expressed by Captain Fitz 

 Roy, of having some scientific person on board, accom- 

 panied by an offer from him of giving up part of his own 

 accommodations, that I volunteered 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 

 enjoyed of studying the Natural History of the different 

 countries we visited have been wholly due to Captain Fitz 

 Roy, 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 Fit? 

 Roy and to all the Officers of the Beagle * I shall ever feel 

 most thankful for the undeviating kindness with which 

 I was 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 

 Natural 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. Waterhouse ; of 

 the Birds, by Mr. Gould ; of the Fish, by the Rev. L. 

 Jenyns ; and of the Reptiles, by Mr. Bell. I have appended 

 to the descriptions of each species an account of its habits 

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

 talents and disinterested zeal of the above distinguished 



' I must tnke this opportunity of rcturniiiR- my sincere thnnks to Mr. Hyiior, 

 the surgeon of" the Bea^lt, for his very kind attention to mc when I was ill 

 at Valparaiso. 



