American Philosophical Society Museum

Site hosted and developed by:

Philadelphia Area Center for History of Science

Dialogues with Darwin: An Exhibition of Historical Documents and Contemporary Art

From Darwin's Journeys: The Making of a Naturalist

‹ Previous Image     Next Image ›

Owen, Zoology

Darwin brought back this fossilized skull of a giant extinct mammal from South America (Toxodon platensis). It resembled a present-day rodent, but was much larger (the illustrated skull is one-half life size). The discovery of such fossils not only provided Darwin with clues to the history of life on earth but also gave him immediate entry into Britain’s most prestigious scientific circles.

Richard Owen (1804-1892) and Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Zoology of the Beagle. Vol. 1. Wellington: Nova Pacifica, [1839] 1980. Reprint.

Read this book online.

Comment on this exhibition.