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Darwin's eponymous finches from the Galapagos have typically taken centre stage in the evidence he gathered to develop his theory of evolution by natural selection, but, in a major new exhibition to celebrate a double anniversary next year, the Natural History Museum has highlighted the remains of two Galapagos mockingbirds. The subtle differences in the plumage of the two birds, lying on a purple cushion, are now considered to be key in Charles Darwin's development of the theory of evolution of species through natural selection. The mockingbirds were collected from the Galapagos islands during his five-year voyage on board HMS Beagle in the 1830s. And now they are on show as part of a major exhibition about Darwin ahead of the occasions next year of 200 years since he was born and 150 years since the first publication of his key book: Origin of Species. It reveals a tenacious scientist but also a devoted family man distressed by losing his religion in the face of his scientific observations. Alongside specimens brought back from the voyage are notebooks describing his earliest hunches on evolution, personal letters, and hairs from his beard recently discovered wrapped in tissue paper in a box kept by his daughter. Darwin was a student clergyman when he joined HMS Beagle on its voyage around the world. Towards the end of the journey, Darwin collected specimens in the Galapagos islands, beginning in San Cristobal. There he saw mockingbirds that looked similar to those he had seen in South America, but on Floreana the mockingbirds were consistently different. They had darker breast markings, white bands on their wings, and longer beaks. The observation was Darwin's first hint that species might evolve over time. Biographers noted that Darwin overlooked more striking differences: the tortoises on each island showed distinct differences in their shell patterns. But, as Darwin thought the tortoises were recent introductions to the islands, they failed to rouse his curiosity. But the birds did. Features In a notebook dated March 1837, he wrote: " If there is the slightest foundation for these remarks, the zoology of archipelagoes will be well worth examining; for such facts would undermine the stability of species. " Alex Gaffikin, exhibition developer at the museum, said: " It's one of those theories that completely changes the way you think about the One of the key events of the double Darwin anniversary next year has …