Importance of discovery of Fossil Mammals 353 
That the passage in Darwin’s pocket-book for 1837 can only refer 
to an awakening of Darwin’s interest in the subject—probably 
resulting from a sight of the bones when they were being unpacked 
—I think there cannot be the smallest doubt; and we may therefore 
confidently fix upon November, 1832, as the date at which Darwin 
commenced that long series of observations and reasonings which 
eventually culminated in the preparation of the Origin of Species. 
Equally certain is it, that it was his geological work that led Darwin 
into those paths of research which in the end conducted him to 
his great discoveries. I quite agree with the view expressed by 
Mr F. Darwin and Professor Seward, that Darwin, like Lyell, “thought 
it ‘almost useless’ to try to prove the truth of evolution until the 
cause of change was discovered’,’ and that possibly he may at 
times have vacillated in his opinions, but I believe there is evidence 
that, from the date mentioned, the “species question” was always 
more or less present in Darwin’s mind” 
It is clear that, as time went on, Darwin became more and more 
absorbed in his geological work. One very significant fact was that 
the once ardent sportsman, when he found that shooting the necessary. 
game and zoological specimens interfered with his work with the 
hammer, gave up his gun to his servant®. There is clear evidence 
that Darwin gradually became aware how futile were his attempts 
to add to zoological knowledge by dissection and drawing, while 
he felt ever increasing satisfaction with his geological work. 
The voyage fortunately extended to a much longer period (five 
years) than the two originally intended, but after being absent nearly 
three years, Darwin wrote to his sister in November, 1834, “Hurrah ! 
hurrah! it is fixed that the Beagle shall not go one mile south of 
Cape Tres Montes (about 200 miles south of Chiloe), and from that 
point to Valparaiso will be finished in about five months. We shall 
examine the Chonos Archipelago, entirely unknown, and the curious 
inland sea behind Chiloe. For me it is glorious. Cape Tres Montes 
pp. 394—6, and Lyell’s Principles [3rd edit.J, Vol. 111. p. 421). Darwin referred to this 
discovery in 1839 (see his Journal, p, 210). 
1M. L. i. p. 38. 
2 Although we admit with Huxley that Darwin’s training in comparative anatomy was 
very small, yet it may be remembered that he was a medical student for two years, and, if 
he hated the lectures, he enjoyed the society of naturalists. He bad with him in the little 
Beagle library a fair number of zoological books, including works on Osteology by Cuvier, 
Desmarest and Lesson, as well as two French Encyclopaedias of Natural History. As 
a sportsman, he would obtain specimens of recent mammals in South America, and would 
thus have opportunities of studying their teeth and general anatomy. Keen observer, as 
he undoubtedly was, we need not then be surprised that he was able to make out the 
resemblances between the recent and fossil forms. 
3. L. x. p. 63. 
D. 23 
