Darwin

The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms. With observations on their habits.

1882ref. B6801London: John Murray William Clowes. 1882. Slight browning to early and last leaves. Interior otherwise clean and crisp. Pp. 65/66 bound between 48/49. Edition: First edition Binding: Full original green cloth boards. Blind framing on boards. Spine with gilt lettering decorative gilt fillet and stamp. Brown paste-in and free endpapers. Notes: A near fine example of this last scientific book by Darwin on earthworm behaviour and ecology. Charles Robert Darwin 1809 – 1882 was an English naturalist geologist and biologist renown for his contributions to the understanding of evolutionary biology and he has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history. His proposition that all species of life have descended from a common ancestor is now generally accepted and considered a fundamental concept in science. In a joint publication with Alfred Russel Wallace he introduced his scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection in which the struggle for existence has a similar effect to the artificial selection involved in selective breeding. The Formation of Vegetable Mould though the Action of Worms sometimes known simply as Worms continued the theme common throughout Darwin’s work which is that gradual changes over long periods of time can lead to large and sometimes surprising consequences. It was the first significant work on soil bioturbation although that term was not used by Darwin it first appeared in the soil and geomorphic literature one hundred years later. The inspiration for Worms likely stemmed from a visit to his uncle’s home where Darwin’s uncle pointed out an area of ground where lime and cinders spread years previously had vanished into the soil forming layers under a top layer of loam. His uncle suggested that this might have been the work of earthworms but apparently thought that this would be of little interest to his nephew who was working on continental scale geological problems. The subject was in fact of interest to Darwin; when he returned to London later that year he prepared a paper on worms forming mould. The paper on the role of earthworms in soil formation was read out by Darwin at the Geological Society of London on 1 November 1837. This was an uncommonly mundane subject for the society and his peers may have hoped to hear of something more grandiose even seeing this paper as highlighting Darwin's growing idiosyncrasies. The leading geologist William Buckland subsequently recommended Darwin's paper for publication. This later led to Darwin’s renewed work on earthworms that led to the publication of the present volume. When asked why he had turned to such an ‘insignificant’ subject such as worms Darwin answered "I have been studying their habits for forty years." In Darwin's view the "insignificant" was the foundation of much greater phenomena. Size: 8vo.188x125 mm Illustration: With many in-text illustrations. First edition seventh thousand corrected. Pages: Blank 2. Title. Printer’s signature. Contents iii-vii. Blank. P. 1 – 328. Advertisement. Printer’s signature. Category: Book Science & Technology; John Murray, William Clowes. hardcover

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Darwin

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