Momentul decisiv – Galapagos (IV – final)

Text:
I have not as yet noticed by far the most remarkable feature in the natural history of this archipelago, it is, that the different islands to a considerable extent are inhabited by a different set of beings. My attention was first called to this fact by the Vice-Governor,Mr Lawson, declaring that the tortoises differed from [...]

Momentul decisiv – Galapagos (III)

Text:
The natural history of these islands is eminently curious, and well deserves attention. Most of the organic productions are aboriginal creations, found nowhere else; there is even a difference between the inhabitants of the different islands; yet all show a marked relationship with those of America, though separated from that continent by an open space [...]

Momentul decisiv – Galapagos (II)

 
Text:
The Beagle sailed around Chatham island and anchored in several bays. One night i slept on shore on a part of the island where black truncated cones were extraordinarily numerous: from one small eminence i counted sixty of them, all surmounted by craters more or less perfect. The greater number consisted merely of a ring [...]

Momentul decisiv – Galapagos (I)

Text:
“This archipelago consists of ten principle islands, of which five exceed the others in size. They are situated under the Ecuator, and between five and six hunderd miles westward of the coast of America. They are all formed of volcanic rocks; a few fragments of granite curiously glazed and altered by the heat can heardly [...]

Uriasele patrupede

Text:
The great size of the bones of the Megatheroid animals including the Megatherium, Megalonyx, Scelidotherium, and Mylodon is truly wonderful. The habits of life of these animals were a complete puzzle to naturalists until Proffesor Owen solved the problem with remarkable ingenuity. The teeth indicate, by their simple structure, that these Megatheroid animals lived on [...]

Rio Negro – Indians

Text:
Shortly after passing the first spring we came in sight of a famous tree, which the indians reverence as the the altar Walleechu. It is situated on a high part of the plain, and hence is a landmark visibile at a great distance. As soon as a tribe of indians come in sight of it, [...]

Rio de Janeiro – Planaria

Text:
The existence of a division of the genus Planaria which inhabits the dry land, interested me much. These animals are of so simple a structure, that Cuvier has arranged them with the intestinal worms, though never found within the bodies of other animals.
Numerous species inhabit both salt and fresh water; but those to which i [...]

Rio de Janeiro – 9-th of April

Text:
On first arriving it was our custom to unsaddle the horses and give them their Indian corn; then, with a low bow; to ask a senhor to do us the favour to give us something to eat. “Anything you choose, sir” was his usual answer. For the few times, vainly I thanked providence for having [...]

San Salvador, Brazil – Feb 29.

Text:
The day has passed delightfully. Delight itself, however, is a weak term to express the feelings of a naturalist who, for the first time, has wanderered by himself in a Brazilian forest. The elegance of the grasses, the novelty of the parasitical plants, the beauty of the flowers, the glossy green of the foliage, but [...]

Cuttle-fish

While looking for marine animals, with my head about two feet above the rocky shore, I was more than once saluted by a jet of water, accompanied by a slight grating noise. At first I could not think what it was, but afterwards I found out that it was this cuttle-fish, which, though concealed in [...]