Reveals how Darwin's study of fossils shaped his scientific thinking and led to his development of the theory of evolution. --

"Charles Darwin's five years as a naturalist on the HMS Beagle informed his scientific viewpoints for the remainder of his life. Known for his work with Galapagos finches, Darwin was also an avid fossil collector who recorded and contemplated the natural world as a whole. His observations led him to determine how coral reefs and atolls formed and to discover a petrified fossil forest. During his expedition, he was one of the first to collect remains of extinct South American mammals, notably the Mylodon, or giant ground sloth. Gathering fossils was one of Darwin's main interests during the voyage, and the discoveries that he made became some of the key pieces of evidence helping to shape his theory of evolution. Intrigued by the geographical distribution of the wildlife and fossils that he collected on his worldwide journey, Darwin began detailed investigations that led him to later publish The Origin of Species. As such, his fossil specimens are of landmark significance in the history of science. [This book] utilizes Darwin's copious notes from the voyage, recorded in notebooks, diaries, and letters, to give readers a firsthand account of his thoughts as he shaped his theory of evolution. Richly illustrated throughout with photography of many of the fossils, now located at the Natural History Museum in London, this fascinating tale of Darwin's discoveries reveals how fossils played a crucial role in the development of his revolutionary ideas."--Cover flap.