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Thirty years ago, Mr. Darwin published as separate works, "Observations on South America," and his "Geological Observations on Volcanic Islands." Since then geology has advanced with strides as great as those which have been stimulated in biology by Mr. Darwin's own labours. It therefore appears singular that these two books should be reprinted verbatim now,25 and issued in one volume as a second edition, with a confession on the part of the author that corrections were required. Mr. Darwin remarks in his preface concerning this subject:

"As I believe they still contain matter of scientific value, it has appeared to me advisable that they should be republished. They relate to parts of the world which have been so rarely visited by men of science, that I am not aware that much could be corrected or added from observations subsequently made. Owing to the great progress which geology

25 "Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands and Parts of South America Visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle." By Charles Darwin, M.A., F.R.S. Second Edition, with Maps and Illustrations. London: Smith, Elder, & Co. 1876.

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has made within recent times, my views on some few points may be somewhat antiquated, but I have thought it best to leave them as they originally appeared."

The main truths in this volume are adopted into geological science, and are to be found in daily use in all public lectures; but the book, as a whole, will probably be found too technical for readers who are familiar with the author's more popular works.