Customer Reviews

The Works of Charles Darwin, Volume 5: The Zoology of the Voyage of the H. M. S. Beagle, Part III: Birds

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At first glance, this book appears to be just a dry, descriptive list of the birds that Darwin came across and collected on his Beagle journey. But there is actually a great deal of interest in it for anyone who is interested in either the development of Darwin's ideas or the history of ornithology.

The two species of South American rheas and the various species of mockingbirds and finches on the Galapagos Islands all ultimately played a part in the development of Darwin's thinking about evolution. Although his ideas on evolution did not begin to form until later, he did notice at the time that the mockingbirds on different islands differed from each other. In the case of the finches, though, he did not even realise that they were all related species which differed on different islands until this was shown by the ornithologist John Gould after Darwin's return to England. As he writes: "Unfortunately I did not suspect this fact until it was too late to distinguish the specimens from the different islands of the group; but from the collection made for Captain FitzRoy, I have been able in some small measure to rectify the omission."

Darwin also admits that he only realised that he had come across a specimen of the newly discovered smaller species of rhea when it had already been skinned and cooked ready for eating. But fortunately "...the head, neck, legs, wings, many of the large feathers, and a large part of the skin, had been preserved."

Many of the scientific (Latin) names of the species in the book have been changed since Darwin's day. So there is a bit of detective work involved in comparing the descriptions here with what is known and written about the birds today. But it is worth the effort. For example, of the Chimango Caracara Darwin writes that he "...saw them following by scores the plough, and feeding on worms and larvae of insects." Today the book Raptors of the World says that this bird "follows cattle or plough", and includes an illustration of a flock following a tractor.

There are also some wonderful scenes described in the book. For example, Darwin writes of Black Vultures "wheeling round and round in the most graceful evolutions." He also refers to Captain King (a previous captain of the Beagle) having seen a hummingbird "flitting about in a snow-storm" on Tierra del Fuego.

There are two reasons why I have not given this edition five stars. Firstly, the illustrations, which were originally in colour, are here reproduced in black and white. Secondly, the introduction is very brief: we could have done with more background information about the volume. Nevertheless, I recommend the book.

Phil Webster.

(England)