The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-18

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here he SsaeT hu MS
peculiar to the archipelago.
VEGETABLE CONTRADICTIONS.
ssbe Island We found MS i shere almost m pSs
slble to- penetrate the bush to any distance and
shells, DISH, &c. Among the moliusks gathered was
species OF purpura lp1pstru pdtuld), which
hs to Sn oOas q sOotn
the beach was beautined at this place
by thick clumps OF mangrove rising nom the water,
seedlings and aerial roots. W. were DELAYED for
short time BY On accident TO the feed check valve,
10th proceeded on the voyage, heading for Panama
SCIENTIFIC DEDUCTIONS AS APPLIED TO EXISTING
In looking back upon the points OF scientific in.
terest connected with the study and exploration OF
the Galapagos the bearing which their geology and
gin OF species 6y natural selection seems one Of the
most important No other technical discussion has
controversy upon this question, and any extended
notice Of the facts or princples involved would be
As general al r rs however the views of its
supporters may be said to be that all organized
beings are engaged in struggle for existence, In
which struggle certain varieties better adapted by
physical or other characteristics to the surrounding
conditions prosper and multiply more than others;
bling that produced artlncially BY breeders in
stock, the weaker and inferior Varieties gradually
becoming extinct; tnat members o. the same
to the action Of different natural forces-that is,
engaged IN struggles OF different kinds-will,
OF distinct specific pecnliarties, which are
perpetuated In the usual manner. Evidently one
the lapse Of long ages Of time; for it is not con.
tended that such changes have ever been seen or
that they have taken place within historical
periods and one OF its most distinguished advo.
Gates has somewhat reluctantly, stated that ut is
not absolutely proven that group Of animals hay
tufe has ever been originated by selection,
whether natural or ARTIFICIAL" Admitting this
never been denied by consistent Darwinists-now
does It happen that on this archipelago, whose
formation is Of the most recent date, we have spe.
cles found nowhere else in the wOrld-aborlginal
creations with the most marked and undisputed
specific differences between them and any other
known anmalsS
The Galapagos form little world in themselves,
so entirely separate and distinct that 1t is even
question in tracing out the resemblances Of their
Inhabitants whether they are more closely allied
to the animals Of the South American continent or
to those OF the olher Pacific Islands. Professor
Of extremely recent origin, there is much in
equality In their ages, and that they seem to show
the effect Of succession Of more and more recent
since their upheaval and overflow has been so
short that on many ofthem particularly the western
most OF the group, the lava has not yet had time TO
become decomposed or disintegrated by climatic
influences and is utterly and completely
also less abraded and water worn than those further
to the east and several other facts indicated to the
Professor their greater yonthfnlness: AS Mr.
Ing every height crowned with its crater and the
boundaries OF most of the lava streams still distinct
we are led to believe that within period geOlOgi-
cay recent the unbroken ocean was here spread
out. Hence both In space and time we seem TO be
brought somewhat near to that great fact-that
mystery OF mysteries-the first appearance OF new
beings on this EARTH"
The hypothesis that their characteristic lnhabi-
tans were brought transferred from the shores of
the continent or that in some past time there was
an intervening or connecting tract OF land, would
9Voe the Sad ns tne lori m
short space OF time, which would be improbable
were one species alone concerned, and which 10
almost beyond the bounds Of credulty when their
number and variety are remembered. On the other
hand taking for example the two most prominent
Of Central America and the tortoise Of Florida r and
our Southern States have become transformed In
the same limited interval to the amblyrhyneus and
testudO nigra Of the Galapagos
These arguments have not the merit OF novelty,
for deep sea dredgings and other Investigations
have shown the fallacy Of many modes Of computa-
tOn of geological time; but they are possibly new
as regards this special instance, and consequently,
not unworthy Reconsideration. In one Of the quar-
ter-deck leCtures-which have been such an agree.
able feature during our voyage-Professor Agassiz
briefly discussed these matters, abiding, in so do
ing, to the impossbility Of visiting the Galapagos
Or indeed, Of approaching any scientific subject at
the present day-withOut thinking of Mr.. Darwin;
@ as an
an honest, conscientious and pains taking nyesti-
gator, ana as one OF the most l0VaDle OF men,
MEASURING TRANSPARENCY.
While. among the islands the water was 80 clear
IN the bays that experiments were made with
as having been used at barbados. A. strip Of
marked lengthwise into scale of ten equal divi-
sions, is painted OF u dark lead color at one end,
fading into whlteAt the other. This board is sunk
horizontally into the sea, q large white board
having just been alhxed parallel to 1t, at mea-
SnSs a. At the At dark IKE end the
end, the lower board, being seen through
q greater depth of water, looks darkest,
two boards appear to be of the same shade. At
that point the relative Wilderness OF the boards s
gos down up ogn sse
distance separating them. This relative whteness
Is readily estimated at night In the cabin by placing
the boards at unequal distances from candle so as
to make them OF the same apparent shade at the
given point Of the SCALE
The comparative Illuminating power Is plainly
as the squares Of their distances from the light.
The mean Of seven observations about the Gala.
pages gave transparency slightly above that OF
being laid upon this comparison. DR.. Hin
considers his apparatus and method OF
measurement to be stl in crude form, and capa-
BILE of much Improvement but they are based upon
sound principle and WIN give valuable results in I,
light goes through fathom, 1t can easily be calcu-
lated into the proportion Of daylight which reaches
ample, that onehalf the light penetrates one
fathom then one-quarter goes down two fathoms,
one-eighth three fathoms, One-thousandth ten
fathoms, one-milhonth twenty fathoms, and so on
indefinitely.
Among other observations made during the
cruise, those relative to the variations In the mag
netism OF the vessel have been Of great interest and
of much practical value. We arc indebted for these
to Lieutenant NJ. s. Day, our navigating officer.
RUN FROM THE GALAPAGOS TO PANAMA BAY.
We enjoyed delightful weather while running
from the Galapagos to this point, and as we have
learned that science on shipboard Is incompatible
with many ordinary comforts we did not allow the
occasional prevalence Of Every ancient and fish,
like smell" to mar the pleasure produced by sunny
SKIES smooth seas and favorable Winds A more
serious ARCHAEOLOGICAL trouble was the necessity to
which we were reduced for q snort time OF varying
our daily diet with different aquatic birds, over
which, had IL not been for the feelings OF our
caterer, we might have exclaimed with Mercutio,
20 flesh, flesh, how art thou fshifed ~ but none OF
these little annoyances were OF long duration, and