Scientific Discovery in the Victorian Era: A Journey to the Galapagos Archipelago

The Voyage of The Beagle, 1831-1836

Portrait of Charles Darwin (1883)

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change”. The infamous works of Charles Darwin in terms of evolution, and natural selection, along with the bold statement above has resonances with the adaptations modern humans have undertaken in the world today.  If we look back to the years Darwin took a voyage to the perplexing Galapagos Islands, and unravelled its hidden treasures, we are faced with the reality of this. If you’re ready to take this journey with me, let us set sail onto a path of scientific discovery of the advancement of Darwin’s theory whilst taking a look at how his observations have made an impact on the scientific and literary world particularly in the Victorian era. 

September 15^th 1835– Galapagos Archipelago

The marvels of evolution are highlighted in Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle; his intrigue of fossil fuels and animals are especially highlighted in his arrival at the Galapagos Islands; he is meticulous in his findings and in his expression to the reader, perhaps it is the writing of a journal form which allows for an intimate look into his works.

With different beaks. From Charles Darwin's 'Journal of Researches'

Darwin’s finches, a group of around fifteen passerine birds, initiated controversy amongst the extremely Christian England of the time. He recognised that different species of finch consume different types of foods, for example seed eaters and fruit eaters. These species all differentiated slightly in terms of the shape of their bills which echoed Darwin’s grandfather’s conjecture about mutability of species, an ideology that was shunned in the period. His theory was met sceptically by the Victorians for it contradicted their religious beliefs about the creation of man.

Darwin’s work on the finches of the Galapagos Islands exhibited how animals react and interact with external stimuli and demands – in this instance, the obtaining of necessary nutrients via evolutionary changes of beaks for survival. 

Darwin’s first impressions of the island were not particularly good ones to say the least: “Nothing could be less inviting than the first appearance” (269); he was keen on observing the behaviour of the plant and animal life that surrounded him. The four days that Darwin remained on the Island, saw him collecting many natural history specimens and his precise details in his description of both plant and animal life highlight his passion for science.

Darwin is particularly observant, and through a combination of both literary and scientific looking, it has allowed for a masterpiece creation that is the Voyage of the Beagle. Admittedly, this piece of text is not particularly easy to read or grasp your head around, but what does come across, is Darwin’s passion of science and perseverance in holding out to look find a scientific discovery. Presenting his ideas in the form of a journal, allows easy access to his most intimate findings. The difference between literary and scientific looking is that science is discovered, whereas literature is invented; I find that Darwin has been successful in translating his scientific discovery in a literary way. The juxtaposition of Darwin’s study of the physical world and the art of his written works is outstanding. 

 Illustration (p.397) from Charles Darwin's 'Journal of Researches, first illustrated edition' 1890.

Darwin was fascinated by such oddities as volcanic rocks and giant tortoises. He later wrote about approaching tortoises, which would retreat into their shells - this can be seen as a primal instinct; in that you would retreat from the unknown or what you are not familiar with. 

“I frequently got on their backs, and then, upon giving a few raps on the hinder part of their shell, they would rise up and walk away; but I found it very difficult to keep my balance” (278-279). If I do say so myself, I too would be intrigued of the immense size of the turtles, and would not be able to resist a ride on the turtles as Darwin did.

Fossil extraction became a love of Darwin’s; while on the Island, he collected all sorts of samples. One of the samples Darwin looked at was that of mockingbirds. His observations led him to believe that the birds were somewhat different on each island. His made him think that the birds had a common ancestor, but followed varying evolutionary paths once they separated.

An interesting link that arises between the scientific and literary world is through Victorian writer Elizabeth Gaskell who based one of her characters Roger Hamley on what most Victorian writers believe to be Charles Darwin. The character of Roger Hamley represents a new authority based on scientific research in the Victorian era yet is still relevant to the modern world. Both Gaskell and Darwin are able to transcend through their literary works a nature of scientific marvel.

Image sourced from The Natural History Museum, London

Darwin’s work has allowed for important collections of his work to be showcased around the UK. During a trip I took to the Natural History Museum, I came across the fossil of a Toxodon. This is positioned even before one enters the main entrance into the museum. If one is not observant, one will miss this artefact. This particular piece is positioned as you enter the door, and I feel it is a sign that arguably portrays the idea that the start of the scientific world begins with one of the findings from Charles Darwin on his expedition. There are signs of evolution all around us in today’s modern world, all one has to do is be observant and it’ll be staring right in front of you.

 “The first Toxodon fossils were discovered by Charles Darwin while visiting Patagonia on his voyage in the Beagle. He wondered at its strange appearance – it seems to share features with both rodents and large ungulates like rhinos. Today Toxodon is seems as distinct from both and is classified in a separate group.” 

Illustration (p.134) from Charles Darwin's 'Journal of Researches, first illustrated edition' 1890.

 

"judging from the portion of the skeleton preserved, the Toxodon, as far as dental characters have weight, must be referred to the rodont order” (142)

“it is interesting to observe this species is the largest, while at the same time peculiar to the continent in which the remains of the gigantic Toxodon  were discovered.” (142)

Image sourced from The Natural History Museum, London

 At my visit to the Natural History Museum, I came across this image of fossil of primates. This is a primary example of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Just as it says in the caption in the image, we as humans have been given the ability to become more flexible with the tools that we call hand and feet. There is a more distinguished and defined thumb as a result of evolutionary processes. 

Looking back to the quote at the beginning, more specifically at the words, "It is the one that is most adaptable to change"; I believe this highlights the essence of the evolution of Science in the Victorian period. Although the nature of science had and still has its complications, it has taken man on a transcendental journey of wonder and progression. Though the Victorians had their doubts in the belief of the scientific world due to the imbalance it placed with their religious beliefs; it holds through the words of Darwin that adapting to change is what can overcome such anxieties in becoming a stronger species. There will always be the age old argument of Science vs Religion, but it is the one who is able to overcome certain age old views that will be able to evolve physically, mentally, and spiritually regardless of fitness and intelligence.

 

Take an interactive voyage of your own: Click on the link to experience the voyage for yourself:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/science-of-natural-history/expeditions-collecting/beagle-voyage/

Watercolour by HMS Beagle's draughtsman, Conrad Martens

Works Cited:

Darwin,C. Voyage of the Beagle. London: Penguin Classics,1989

The Natural History Expedition,2012

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