368 Darwin and Geology 
Keeling Island, he had opportunities for putting his theory to the test 
of observation. 
On his return to England, Darwin appears to have been greatly 
surprised at the amount of interest that his new theory excited. 
Urged by Lyell, he read to the Geological Society a paper on the 
subject, as we have seen, with as little delay as possible, but this 
paper was “withdrawn by permission of the Council.” An abstract 
of three pages however appeared in the Proceedings of the Geological 
Society’. A full account of the observations and the theory was 
given in the Journal (1839) in the 40 pages devoted to Keeling 
Island in particular and to Coral formations generally’. 
It will be readily understood what an amount of labour the book 
on Coral reefs cost Darwin when we reflect on the number of charts, 
sailing directions, narratives of voyages and other works which, with 
the friendly assistance of the authorities at the Admiralty, he had 
to consult before he could draw up his sketch of the nature and 
distribution of the reefs, and this was necessary before the theory, 
in all its important bearings, could be clearly enunciated. Very 
pleasing is it to read how Darwin, although arriving at a different 
conclusion to Lyell, shows, by quoting a very suggestive passage in 
the Principles*, how the latter only just missed the true solution. 
This passage is cited, both in the Journal and the volume on Coral- 
reefs. Lyell, as we have seen, received the new theory not merely 
ungrudgingly, but with the utmost enthusiasm. 
In 1849 Darwin was gratified by receiving the support of Dana, 
after his prolonged investigation in connection with the U.S. Exploring 
Expedition‘, and in 1874 he prepared a second edition of his book, in 
which some objections which had been raised to the theory were 
answered. A third edition, edited by Professor Bonney, appeared in 
1880, and a fourth (a reprint of the first edition, with introduction by 
myself) in 1890. 
Although Professor Semper, in his account of the Pelew Islands, 
had suggested difficulties in the acceptance of Darwin’s theory, it was 
not till after the return of the Challenger expedition in 1875 that 
a rival theory was propounded, and somewhat heated discussions were 
raised as to the respective merits of the two theories. While geolo- 
gists have, nearly without exception, strongly supported Darwin’s 
views, the notes of dissent have come almost entirely from zoologists. 
At the height of the controversy unfounded charges of unfairness 
were made against Darwin’s supporters and the authorities of the 
Geological Society, but this unpleasant subject has been disposed of, 
once for all, by Huxley® 
1 Vol. 1. pp. 552—554 (May 31, 1837). 2 Journal (1st edit.), pp. 439—69. 
3 1st edit. Vol. 11. p. 296. 4M. L. u. pp. 226—8. 
5 Essays upon some Controverted Questions, London, 1892, pp. 314—328 and 623—625. 
