Where do Darwin s finches come from?

Description

Darwin's finches are one of the great icons of biology and the history of science. It is probably the most widespread story about Darwin: he discovered evolution on the Galapagos Islands when he observed the beaks of the finches. Yet historians of science have known for twenty years that this is not true and indeed could not have been true. If these stories are not based on what Darwin actually did or wrote- then what are they based on? Where do they come from? Who could be responsible? This talk, based on new research by John van Wyhe, reveals the surprising explanation.

John van Wyhe is the Director of The Complete work of Charles Darwin online at CRASSH, Cambridge University.