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Darwin "Voyage of the Beagle."

JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES INTO THE NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRIES VISITED DURING THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD OF H.M.S. BEAGLE. By CHARLES DARWIN, M.A., F.R.S. NEW EDITION. ILLUSTRATED. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

When Darwin first published his journals of the now historic voyage of the Beagle, the Quarterly Review described the work as "one of the most interesting narratives of voyaging that has fallen to our lot to take up, and one which must always occupy a distinguished place in the history of scientific navigation." The prophecy has been fulfilled in the most complete manner. Notable in itself, the book has received attention as Darwin's fame has extended, for it is in this narrative that the great naturalist first began to unfold the primary elements of his remarkable theory of natural selection. Capt. Fitz Roy, of the Beagle, invited Darwin to make the journey in the ship, even surrendering some of his own accommodations to make things more comfortable for the naturalist, who did not fail to afterward acknowledge his indebtedness to the Captain. The world may well feel that it owes a debt to this sagacious commander of one of her Majesty's ships. In his preface to the second edition of the book (in 1845) Darwin speaks of his obligations to Prof. Henslow, of Cambridge, who was "the chief means" of giving him a taste for natural history.

Not until now has an illustrated edition of Darwin's narrative been undertaken. Most of the pictures in the volume are drawn by R. T. Pritchett from places visited and objects described by Darwin. Some few of the pictures are from engravings which Darwin had himself gathered for their interest as illustrating his voyage, and which are loaned by his son for this edition. Great care seems to have been exercised in selecting and verifying the illustrations, which bear upon every feature of the narrative. Being made in this spirit, they have a more than pictorial value. The accuracy of the detail drawings give added scientific interest to a volume that teems with suggestions. This illustrated edition may, indeed, well replace all others, by virtue of its many and well-balanced features of interest.

In the last passages of his book Darwin urgently advised your naturalists to visit distant lands. He courteously suggests that the young naturalist may not be able to secure companions so agreeable as those with whom he was himself associated; but "he may feel assured he will meet with no difficulties or dangers, excepting in rare cases, nearly so bad as he beforehand anticipates. In a moral point of view the effort ought to be to teach him good humoured patience, freedom from selfishness, the habit of acting for himself, and of making the best of every occurrence."