IN MEMORIAM: CHARLES DARWIN 



ralists, so that when, in the year 1859, the " Ori- 

 gin of Species " was published, it at once at- 

 tracted universal attention by reason of the 

 eminence of its author. I well remember how, 

 in the first few weeks after the book was pub- 

 lished, every one at all instructed in the biologi- 

 cal sciences was eager to ascertain the views of 

 so distinguished a naturalist with regard to a 

 question which for several years had agitated the 

 scientific world. 



Like the great works which had preceded it, 

 the " Origin of Species " must be regarded as 

 one of the results of the ever memorable voyage 

 of the Beagle. In the course of this voyage 

 Mr. Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands, and 

 was struck by the peculiar relations which the 

 floras and faunas of this archipelago sustained 

 to one another, and to the flora and fauna of the 

 nearest mainland of Ecuador, distant some five 

 hundred miles. These islands are purely vol- 

 canic in formation, and have never at any time 

 been joined to the South American continent 

 They possess no batrachians and no mammals, 

 save a mouse, which was no doubt introduced 

 by some ship. The only insects are coleoptera, 

 which possess peculiar facilities for transpor- 

 tation across salt water upon floating logs or 

 branches ; and along with these are two or 

 three species of land shells. There are also two 

 snakes, one land tortoise, and four kinds of liz- 



