Natural History of the Azores or Western Islands

Abstract

SINCE the time when Mr. Darwin called attention to the peculiarities of the fauna and flora of the Galapagos in his “Journal of Researches,” and showed in his “Origin of Species” how important were the lessons to be learnt from oceanic islands in general, the subject has had great attractions for naturalists, and much material has been collected for its elucidation. Mr. Wollaston's bulky volumes on the Coleoptera of Madeira, the Canaries, and the Cape de Verdes, are models of careful research; but Mr. Godman appears to be the first who has, after a personal exploration of one of these oceanic groups, endeavoured to collect all that is known of its natural productions, and published the result in a condensed and convenient form; and for so doing he deserves the thanks of all naturalists.

Natural History of the Azores or Western Islands.

By Frederick Ducane Godman. (Van Voorst, 1870.)