Geological Observations on South AmericaDarwin, Charles
Science
Geological Observations on South America
Darwin, Charles
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Geology -- South America; Mollusks, Fossil -- South America; Paleontology
His account of the great Pampean formation, with its wonderful
mammalian remains—Mastodon, Toxodon, Scelidotherium, Macrauchenia,
Megatherium, Megalonyx, Mylodon, and Glyptodon—this full of interest.
His discovery of the remains of a true Equus afforded a remarkable
confirmation of the fact- -already made out in North America—that
species of horse had existed and become extinct in the New World,
before their introduction by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century.
Fully perceiving the importance of the microscope in studying the
nature and origin of such deposits as those of the Pampas, Darwin
submitted many of his specimens both to Dr. Carpenter in this country,
and to Professor Ehrenberg in Berlin. Many very important notes on the
microscopic organisms contained in the formation will be found
scattered through the chapter.
Darwin’s study of the older tertiary formations, with their abundant
shells, and their relics of vegetable life buried under great sheets of
basalt, led him to consider carefully the question of climate during
these earlier periods. In opposition to prevalent views on this
subject, Darwin points out that his observations are opposed to the
conclusion that a higher temperature prevailed universally over the
globe during early geological periods. He argues that “the causes which
gave to the older tertiary productions of the quite temperate zones of
Europe a tropical character, WERE OF A LOCAL CHARACTER AND DID NOT
AFFECT THE WHOLE GLOBE.” In this, as in many similar instances, we see
the beneficial influence of extensive travel in freeing Darwin’s mind
from prevailing prejudices. It was this widening of experience which
rendered him so especially qualified to deal with the great problem of
the origin of species, and in doing so to emancipate himself from ideas
which were received with unquestioning faith by geologists whose
studies had been circumscribed within the limits of Western Europe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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