The Presidential Address. 65
his mother was a daughter of Josiah Wedgwood, the renowned
Etrurian potter. Darwin's scientific career may be considered
to have commenced by his appointment as naturalist to
H.M. Surveying Ship 'Beagle,' under Captain, afterwards
Admiral, Fitzroy. The 'Beagle' left England in 1831, and
was absent for nearly five years. Soon after his return
Darwin settled at Down, and from that time his life—a most
uneventful one from a biographical point of view—was mainly
devoted to those researches which have resulted in nothing
less than a complete revolution in our conceptions of organic
nature.
Such ample notices of Darwin's works appeared in the
various newspapers at the time of his death that it is quite
unnecessary for me to do more than to name them, pending
the appearance of the complete biography which all are
anxiously awaiting. Omitting the shorter papers contributed
to the publications of the learned societies, the following is
the list of works in the order of publication :—
1812. 'The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs.'
2nd ed., 1874.
1841. 'Geological Observations ou the Volcanic Islands
and Parts of South America visited during the
Voyage of H.M.S. "Beagle."' 2nd ed., 1877.
1845. 'A Naturalist's Voyage round, the World.' New ed.,
1860.
1851-1854. 'A Monograph of the Cirripedia.' 2 vols. (Ray
Society).
1851. 'A Monograph of the Fossil Lepadidae or Peduncu-
lated Cirripeds of Great Britain.' (Palaeontograph-
ical Society.)
1854. 'A Monograph of the Fossil Balanidae and Verrucidae
of Great Britain.' (Palaeontographical Society.)
1859. 'The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection,
or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the
Struggle for Life.' 6th ed., 1872..
1862. 'On the Various Contrivances by which British and
Foreign Orchids are fertilised by Insects.' 2nd
ed., 1877.
1868. 'The Variation of Animals and Plants under Do-
mestication.' 2nd ed., 1876.
1871. 'The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to
Sex,' 2nd ed., 1874.