Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.3)

PREFACE. I HAVE stated in the preface to the Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle, that it was in consequence of a wish expressed by Captain FitzRoy, of having some scientific person on board, accompanied by an offer fi'om him, of giving up part of his own accommo- dations, that I volunteered my services, which received, through the kindness of the hydrographer. Captain Beaufort, the sanction of the Lords of the Admiralty. As I feel that the opportunities, which I enjoyed of studying the Natural History of the different countries we visited, have been wholly due to Captain Fitz- Roy, I hope I may here be permitted to express my gratitude to him ; and to add that, during the five years we were together, I received from him the most cordial friendship and steady assistance. Both to Captain FitzRoy and to all the Officers of the Beagle,* * I must likewise take this opportunity of returning my sincere thanks to Mr. Bynoe, the surgeon of the Beagle, for his very kind attention to me when I was ill at Valparaiso.