AUTHOR'S 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, accompanied 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 Fitz 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. 



1 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 at Valparaiso. 



