Voyage of the Beagle
When
Charles received the letter inviting him to not only be the H.M.S. Beagle’s
naturalist, it also asked him to be Captain FitzRoy’s personal companion. The ship
was going to chart the cost of South America. Charles thought that that was a great
opportunity to study the South American nature. As soon as the Beagle set sail he was
SEASICK! On February 16, 1832 the Beagle crossed the equator. This was Charles' first time
in southern waters. The crew was ready. The sailor caught Charles and blindfolded him.
Then they threw him into a sail full of water. In a while everyone was in on the water
fight. Even captain FizRoy was soaked. On leap year's day they
landed in Brazil. Charles set ashore and explored the jungles. Just after midnight on
April first a crew member flew into the cabin and asked him if he had ever seen a dolphin.
He shot out of his cabin. The night watch greeted him with laughter. It was an April
Fools' Joke. Charles had been finding many fossils and 
mailing
them to Hensow. The fossils were supporting his theory of evolution. On his voyage the
crew named him "Fly Catcher." One day Charles found 68 new species of beetles.
On the Galapagos Islands Charles discovered that there were different species of
tortoises, finches, and lizards. On October 2, 1836 Charles arrived back in England.