Problem
Instructions
Beagle Homeward Bound - Final Phase
Darwin met with Herschel while he was in
Cape Town South AfricaThe extinct glyptodon resembles the armadilloLiving armadillo
a) July 8th, 1836: St. Helena Island
b) August 1st, 1836: Bahia de los Santos
c) September 10th, 1836: The Azores Islands, Terceira
d) October 2nd, 1836: Falmouth, England
Homeward Bound
May 31, 1836: Simon's Bay, Cape Town, South Africa: The Beagle arrived at the southern tip of Africa at Simon's Bay. The bay was within twenty miles of Cape Town. Simon's bay was bleak and Darwin found a boarding house. After a packet of mail arrived for the Beagle, Darwin and Captian FitzRoy went to Cape Town and visited his friend Sir John Herschel. Placed in charge of the Royal Observatory at Cape Town, Herschel had only lived there for three years. Darwin had started his service with the Beagle before Herschel moved to Cape Town. Herschel was probably the most sought-after man of science at the time. In 1826 he was presented with the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Lalande Medal of the French Institute. He was also made a Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order before he went to Cape Town. He would have already observed the coming of Haley's Comet when FitzRoy and Darwin arrived.
Herschel had read Lyell's Principles of Geography and was intrigued. Herschel favored the notion of gradual change and in a letter to Lyell wrote, "we must not impugn the Scripture Chronology, but we must interpret it in accordance with whatever shall appear on fair inquiry to be the truth for there cannot be two truths. And really there is scope enough: for the lives of the Patriarchs may as reasonably be extended to 5000 or 50000 years apiece as the days of Creation to as many thousand millions of years."
Darwin enjoyed his stay and had the opportunity to engage Herschel in many discussions. Both fancied natural history and they had many conversations about the possible movement of continents, volcanoes, earthquakes, the origin of man, and how species come into being. Herschel was particularly interested in how species form and in his letter to Lyell referred to this as the "mystery of mysteries." Given these discussions, Darwin must have considered his fossil collections as well as the creatures he observed on his travels. The fossils of some extinct creatures bore striking similarities to creatures still living. For example, the glyptodont (from his fossil collection) and the armadillo had a striking similarity. Could they be related? How would a longer life span of the Earth account for this?
If this situation had occurred just once it could have been a unique instance. However, the Finches also bore incredible similarities, and in another case, an enormous fossil skull (Toxodon), which Darwin purchased in South America, and the small living capybara bore an eerie resemblance. In each case, the living animal was much smaller. Is it significant that the larger creatures indicated in the fossil records are extinct?
One should note that Darwin was heavily influenced by Herschel's writings, and credits him for helping develop his theory in The Origin of Species. In the book's opening, Darwin was referring to Herschel when he wrote that, "the origin of species - that mystery of mysteries, as it has been called by one of our greatest philosophers."
July 8, 1836: St Helena Island: The Beagle arrived at St. Helena Island. They stayed there for five days. Darwin described the island as desolate. He went out to explore but discovered all the plants he saw were introduced from England.
August 1, 1836: Bahia de Los Santos, Brazil: Concerned that he may have made mistaken calculations, Capt. FitzRoy ordered the beagle back to South America on July 23rd. The crew is not thrilled. The Beagle eventually arrived at Bahia de Los Santos, Brazil. Darwin took the time there to once again investigate the rainforests. However, his mind was elsewhere. Darwin wrote, "I was delighted on the 17th to get on board the ship and in the afternoon to leave the shores of Brazil." They all wanted to go home.
September 10, 1836: The Azores Islands, Terceira: The Beagle arrived at the Azores Islands. Anchoring at Terceira, near the town of Angra. Darwin and the crew could go ashore. Darwin hired a horse to go investigate a volcanic crater. After a day's ride, he discovered merely fissures in volcanic rock. It was under-whelming.
October 2, 1836: Falmouth, England: The Beagle docked at Falmouth, England around 9:00 in the evening during a mild rainstorm. The rain would not dampen their spirits. It had been almost five years, and they had finally made it back home. Darwin set off immediately for Shrewsbury to visit his family. After the voyage, Darwin would retire to his home and animal research. But he was not satisfied with the accepted theories of how species form. Using industrial revolutions as a metaphor, Darwin speculated about speciation in 1855. He discussed his ideas with Thomas Huxley, Joseph Hooker, and John Lubbock and received positive reinforcement. After discussing his ideas with Lyell and Alfred Russel Wallace in 1856, Lyell urged Darwin to publish them.
By 1858, Darwin's short essay on natural selection was growing into a volume. On July 1st, Darwin read a paper on the topic to the Linnean Society in London. Wallace read a similar paper. His thesis promoted a view of natural selection that was guided by a divine power that supported moral development and progression. (Darwin's paper did not support this divine intervention view). The event was very controversial and the papers were received with show and anticipation. In 1859, nearly thirty years after Darwin's adventure on the Beagle, he released the Origin of Species. Over 1,200 copies were made and most were sold the first day.
Answer the following questions.
A. The fossils of some extinct creatures bore striking similarities to creatures still living. Examples included the glyptodont and the armadillo, and from Darwin's fossil collection the head of the giant Toxodon resembled the living small capybara. Could they be related? Drawing on what Darwin knew, explain the similarities. How would a longer life span of the Earth account for this? In each case, the living animal was much smaller. Is it significant that the larger creatures indicated in the fossil records are extinct? Could climate change account for the survival of smaller species and not larger ones? Why or Why not?
B. Comment on the influence of Sir John Herschel on Darwin's thinking near the end of the voyage.
C. List some of the scientists who encouraged Darwin to publish his book. Research them and briefly summarize their contributions.