Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
The object of the present Introduction, is briefly to describe the principal localities,from which the Zoological specimens, collected during the voyage of theBeagle, were obtained. At the conclusion of this work, after each species hasbeen separately examined and described, it will be more advantageous to incorporateany general remarks. The Beagle was employed for nearly five years outof England; of this time a very large proportion was spent in surveying thecoasts of the Southern part of South America, and of the remainder, much wasconsumed in making long passages during her circumnavigation of the globe.Hence nearly the entire collection, especially of the animals belonging to thehigher orders, was procured from this continent; to which, however, must be addedthe Galapagos Archipelago, a group of islands in the Pacific, but not far distantfrom the American coast. The localities may be briefly described under thefollowing heads.
Brazil. This country presents an enormous area, supporting the mostluxuriant productions of the intertropical regions. It is composed of primaryformations, and may be conside