PREFACE. 
4 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 volun- 
teered 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 en- 
joyed 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 dbesevattons 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. Water- 
house; of the Birds, by Mr. Gould; of the Fish, by the 
Rey. 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 
* 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. 
