The Voyage of the HMS Beagle - Charles Darwin

      A couple of days ago we had lunch with our good friends, Robert and Mary Ann, and Robert presented me with a real treasure, a 1908 reprint of Darwin's famous round-the-world voyage on the HMS Beagle. When first published it became instantly popular and was the equivalent of a best seller today. It had many aspects of a grand adventure, rivalling popular fiction, and introduced its readers to far corners of the world still shrouded in mystery. 

     One must remember that 1908 was a mere twenty-six years after Darwin's death.

     Robert bought this book in a secondhand bookstore in the very early 1970s in Baie Comeau, a small city about 400km northeast of Québec City, and researched the name of the original owner, who acquired the book in 1911, and was able to determine that she was probably a local resident. It is interesting to reflect that demand for Darwin's work had already reached these outposts of eastern Canada in the early years of the twentieth century, a reflection of the worldwide interest in the works of the great man.

     Alice felt the need to inscribe her name back and front; probably an indication of how much she valued the work.

     Women of this period were deeply involved in science, then popularly known as philosophy. I am curious about Alice, how old was she, what was her status in life, would she and I have enjoyed each other's company? I suspect we would.

     Perhaps there is an advantage in not knowing her - I am free to conjure up my own impressions. 

     This volume is part of the Everyman series, edited by the legendary Ernest Rhys. A publishing venture, designed to bring the classics and other works to the general public at an affordable price, it has been described as the greatest venture in popular publishing that Great Britain has ever known. As we see, its tentacles reached around the world, especially throughout the colonial empire of the time, on which the sun famously never set.

      The book is bound in canvass and was of a size easily carried in a man's jacket pocket or a lady's handbag.

    Embossed into the front cover is the emblem of the publisher J.M. Dent & Co.

     The spine is exquisitely embellished with a design based on the art of William Morris, whose patterns are still found in  wallpaper and fabric stores to this day.

     

     The following quotation from the medieval play Everyman appeared on the title page of all volumes of Everyman's Library.

     Books such as this, widely disseminated to  increasingly literate and curious societies, were type set by hand, an arduous and lengthy task. The results are impressive.

     Not an inch of space was wasted!

     I am not quite sure whether the following statement was included by Darwin or the publisher, but without doubt it applies to most of us.

    A close English translation is, "I know that I know nothing," a sentiment that is often on my mind!

     I cherish this book deeply and I am very grateful to Robert for giving it to me. If you love books as I do, it goes far beyond the printed page. It encapsulates history, and cries out for a connection to the past. The book is not in pristine condition as you will note from the pictures, but in reality that matters little. It is evidence  that the book was well loved and well used, and no finer endorsement could be made.  One hundred and fifteen years have passed since Alice wrote her name in the book, but her presence is alive today and will live on forever as long as this book survives. 

     I intend to make sure it does. 

Health Valley Trail, Waterloo, ON

05 August, 2026 

     It has been a long time coming, but here is a report of a visit to the Health Valley Trail, where we were joined by Victoria.

     A Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens), taking advantage of the wide array of flowers in bloom, greeted us almost as soon as we set foot on the path.

     Seven-spotted Lady Beetles (Coccinella septempunctata) are voracious consumers of aphids and other insects; no doubt this individual was probing for a meal.

     We have not seen many Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) this year so every sighting brings joy and hope.

     I believe this ghostly insect is a Northern Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica barberi).

     I don't recall ever seeing it before, but there is a large field planted with corn adjacent to the path.

     Hadrophallus bubalus is a very attractive little treehopper.

     Wood Germander (Teucrium canadense) was blooming nicely.

     Greenbottle Flies (genus Lucilia) are quite beautiful, but difficult to separate as to species.

     Two-horned Treehopper (Stictocephala diceros) feeds on the juices of various plants.

     This Banded Harvestman (Leiobunum vittatum) was perhaps on patrol searching for aphids.

     Elecampane (Inula helenium) was in full bloom.

     Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) is the bane of those people who suffer from seasonal allergies.

     Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) is one of our most common dragonflies; here is a female.

     Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) was introduced from Europe to North America, and has become a serious invasive pest in some areas. 

     Its seeds are valued and exploited by American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis), especially in winter.

     Small White (Pieris rapae), sometimes referred to as Cabbage White, is often abundant; at certain times of the year it is possibly our most frequently observed butterfly.

     The larvae of Lappet Moths (family Lasiocampidae) are apt to cause some people to recoil in horror!

     A Black Swallowtail (Papilo polyxenes), on the other hand, produces exactly the opposite effect.

     It's always a good idea to leave a European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula) to go about its business.

     We had not seen a single Monarch caterpillar this year, so it was especially encouraging to come across this individual.

     On the way back to the car, two other butterflies shared their day with us - a Monarch-mimicking Viceroy (Limentis archippus).....

     ..... and a Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta).

     It had been a very pleasant walk on a warm and sunny August day.

Book Review - Seashells: A Compendium of Five Thousand of the World's Species - Princeton University Press

 

     Who among us who has visited the seashore has resisted the urge to collect shells to take home? Very few, I am sure.  Shells are beautiful, varied in form and colour, and speak to us of a realm hidden from our view, a world of mystery, a kingdom of wonder, and a link to the very early days of life on Earth. What else fills all these niches? And shells are free, and available equally to everyone, no matter their status in life. A pauper can amass a collection equal to that of a millionaire.

     There is a bit of an addiction to shell collecting that only kicks in when collecting is possible. In the Bahamas in February I could not resist searching for conch shells and bringing them home. In a house where space is at a premium I need more shells like the proverbial hole in the head, but I can gaze at them now as I compose this review. And they make me happy!

     This fabulous book, covering a staggering five thousand species, will enable you to go beyond the purely aesthetic appeal of shells, to an understanding of their origins, their geographic distribution, and their ecosystem functions. You will become acquainted with molluscs from the shallow waters of tropical seas, to coral reefs, to frigid polar shores, and shells cast up from the deepest parts of the ocean.

 

     For the serious shell collector or conchologist a great deal of useful information is provided on collecting and storage techniques, with up-to-date taxonomy and systematics. 

     There is general agreement that the most satisfying way to build a collection is to visit beaches where you can find your own specimens. An alarming, yet all too familiar caveat from the book: "Nowadays, many beaches are sadly adorned with mounds of trash, and a good pair of gloves has become a necessary part of a beachcomber's outfit."

     We do know how to ruin a good thing, don't we?

     There is an excellent glossary of the terms used in the book, and a guide to the families that I found exceptionally useful.

     The pages that comprise most of the book are nothing short of phenomenal. 

     Not only are they a feast for eyes, essential information is encapsulated in so scant a space. There is a picture of the external and internal views where applicable, the measurement to the nearest millimetre, the original taxonomic authority and the location. This will often be enough, but if you are serious about knowing more, here is the starting point.

     I am already looking forward to a few cold winter's nights sitting with my shell collections, organizing and identifying them in ways I have never done before. Precision, accuracy and knowledge will be my reward!

     Thank you Paul Callomon and Gary Rosenberg for a job very well done.

Seashells: A Compendium of Five Thousand of the World's Species - Princeton University Press

Paul Callomon and Gary Rosenberg

Hardcover - US$49.95 - ISBN 9780691265285

336 pages - 9 x 12.5 inches (22.5 x 31.25 cm)

5,400 + colour photographs

Publications date: 22 September, 2026

Book Review - The Language of Bees - Princeton University Press

 

     I was delighted when I noted that Princeton University Press had published yet another title in its unrivalled coverage of bees over the last several years.

     A veritable who's who of the world of bees has been included - Chitka, Grozinger, Packer, Seeley, Tautz (and others), and they are now joined by James C. Nieh.

     This fascinating book is both a personal account of Nieh's ascendancy in this select group, and an insider's glimpse into research hitherto not undertaken - or pursued minimally. In the classic way of good scientists, Nieh writes about events that initially seemed like failure, or conditions that developed to thwart his carefully staged experiments, turning them into first rate opportunities for other avenues of research. 

     It was Karl von Frisch, of course, who discovered the now famous waggle dance, whereby foraging bees direct their sisters to food sources, but much additional knowledge has been gained over the years (see, for example, Tautz (2021). The means of communication among bees are diverse and multi-faceted, involving scent, movement, vibration and sound. 

     In a series of elegant experiments Nieh explores the intricacies of communication among bees in myriad ways. A really helpful tool is the provision of a QR code to take the reader to a series of YouTube videos showing the signals and behaviours discussed in the book.

     This is a commendable use of technology to improve the learning experience.

     A series of full colour plates also enhances the text.

     Nieh's prose is not without humour. I chuckled mightily over his description of riding a bicycle after being stung on his tender parts!

     

     Life on Earth is threatened by the climate crisis; bees no less than other living things. Global warming is significant in this regard, with the potential disruption of plant cycles. This has the ability to hit bees that utilize one plant especially hard. The principal function of honey bees has ceased to be the production of honey; rather they are used as pollination tools, shipped over vast distances to facilitate food production for humans. The California almond crop, for example, would fail without this intervention. There are indications that this practice may be harming bees in ways unthought of. Rampant (and in some jurisdictions almost uncontrolled) use of pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, has the potential to seriously impact the foraging efficacy and breeding success of bees.

     We tamper with natural cycles at our peril - yet we keep doing it. We seem to lack will when it is needed most.

     This book is an important addition to the canon of literature on bees. It should be essential reading for everyone concerned with our future life on Planet Earth.

The Language of Bees - Princeton University Press

James C. Nieh

Hardcover - US$29.95 - ISBN 9780691204895

288 pages - 6.125 x 9.25 inches (15.31 x 23.125 cm)

16 colour and 31 black-and-white illustrations

Publication date: 15 September, 2025

Recent Sightings in Benjamin Park, Waterloo, ON

 

     This park is a mere five minutes away from our house, so we go there often. 

     What follows is a random selection of a few highlights of the past couple of weeks, not ranked in order of importance.

     Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is probably the bird we see more than any other at this location.

     Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) has also been extremely common this year. There seems to be a cohort of unattached males, a dozen or so birds, and they are heard constantly.

     They take advantage of the fully leafed-out trees for concealment and are difficult to photograph.

     An Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) is capable of driving a gardener off the deep end, but on the trail, harming no one and trying to stay one step ahead of the numerous predators who would make a meal of it, it is charming.

     American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), a late breeder, takes full advantage of the bounty of seeds in late summer.

     A Red-banded Leafhopper (Graphocephela coccinea) is a very attractive little insect.

     Locust Borer (Megacyilene robiniae) is a significant pest of Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacia) trees.

     Ironically, I know of no Black Locusts in the area, but this species is known to favour the pollen of goldenrods (genus Solidago) as a food source, which is where I located it.

          Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is very common and finds protein to feed its growing young.

     Soon, as the weather becomes cooler, they will revert to their habit of soliciting food from their human friends.

     An Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) is a charming little bird, subdued in colour, but no less beautiful.

     This bird, one of three I saw, is undertaking southbound migration to its winter quarters in northwestern South America.

     Surely, one of the delights of late summer/early fall in southern Ontario, is New England Aster (Symphytrichum novae-angliae).

     Asters and goldenrods are often found together.

     Northern Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) is an impressive insect.

     It is sometimes referred to as Imposter Wasp because it mimics many other species.

     Mexican Grass-carrying Wasp (Isodontia mexicana) is a large wasp with a menacing appearance.

     It derives its name from its practice of carrying long pieces of grass to partition and close its nests.

     I know that you are all in love with wasps so here is one more to make your day complete!

     Common Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria) has outnumbered all other wasp species by a good margin over the last little while.

     It is an important pollinator species.

     I hasten to point out that I have never been stung while photographing bees or wasps. They seem to be totally indifferent to my presence.

     As best as I recall, I have only been stung twice by a wasp, both times while eating outside where sugars in food or drink may have lured them in. I bore them no ill will!

     Let me finish with a couple of much-loved birds for those of you who are getting over the wasp heebie-jeebies!

     Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is much loved by everyone. I doubt whether I could get a single word of demurral on that score.

     If a poll were taken to identify the most recognized bird in North America, American Robin Turdus migratorius) would be a serious contender!

     I am very lucky to have this park so close to home. I might go for a stroll there this afternoon!