On this episode of the Dogwatch talk with James Costa and learn about the role of domesticated organisms, like dogs, in the development of Darwin’s theory of natural selection. We range from Down House in England to the Galapagos and discuss how these organisms affected Darwin’s thinking.

See Jim’s books:
Darwin’s Backyard
The Annotated Origin
Wallace, Darwin, and the Origin of Species
The Other Insect Societies

For Darwin and dogs, see the Darwin Correspondence Project.

Quotation in podcast introduction from:

“I most heartily subscribe to what you say about the qualities of Dogs: I have one whom I love with all my heart.” (1871)

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13889,” accessed on 9 November 2021, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13889.xml