PREFACE.. 



variety of plants and animals, and though their situation 

 is directly under the equator, the climate is so moderate 

 as to resemble that of the temperate rather than that of 

 the torrid zone : but matters of this kind are beneath the 

 observation of Mr. Porter. He tells us, however, that the 

 temperature of the air of the Gallapagos islands varies 

 from 72° to 75°, and he mentions an object which he en- 

 eountered on landing, that created both surprise and 

 alarm. ' On entering the bushes we found myriads of 

 guanas, of an enormous size, and the most hideous ap- 

 pearance imaginable ; the rocks forming the cove were 

 also covered with them, and, from their taking to the 

 water very readily, we were induced to believe them a 

 distinct species from those found among the keys of the 

 West Indies. In some spots a half acre of ground would 

 be so completely covered with them, as to appear as 

 though it was impossible for another to get in the space. 

 They were harmless,' the captain adds, ' and as good for 

 eating as the tortoises.' " 



There is much wilful perversion of the meaning 

 and language of the author, as well as philoso- 

 phical ignorance, in this extract from the Review. 

 In the first place, these Islands are, as the author 

 has stated, all volcanic," but by no means " all 

 in a state of activity," as the critic asserts. The 

 only volcanoes seen in a state of activity were, 

 four on Marlborough, one on Albemarle, and one 

 on Charles' Island. The author certainly did not 

 load his Journal with a recapitulation of all the 

 theories on this subject, as detailed in the Encyclo- 

 pedia ; nor, if he had been inclined to enter on the 

 subject, would he have probably agreed with the 

 philosophical Reviewer, who so innocently, yet 

 positively asserts, that these volcanoes are all " fed 

 by a constant indraught of the sea towards the 

 Islands." For this neglect in not adopting and 

 enforcing a theory patronized by St. Pierre and 

 the Quarterly Review, opposed by Hutton, Blake, 

 Hall, Clarke, and others, and ridiculed by Play- 



