SEMON'S RESEARCHES IN AUSTRALIA. 



17 



In view of these facts the following answer, made some years ago 

 by a man of New England birth and education, but of unenviable 

 character and influence, to a question as to his father's honesty, has 

 no little of point and application: " He is honest as the world goes. 

 He won't tell a lie for twelve and a half cents " (the New England 

 ninepence), " but he will tell eight for a dollar." 



•»»» 



SEMON'S SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHES IN AUSTRALIA. 



By Prof. E. P. EVANS. 



SOME years ago Dr. Paul von Ritter gave to the University of 

 Jena a considerable fund for the endowment of research in the 

 direction of the doctrine of evolution, and more especially for pro- 

 moting the scientific exploration of Australia. The complete geo- 

 graphical or physical isolation of this vast island since the Tertiary 

 period has prevented it from keeping pace with other portions of the 

 globe in the develop- 

 ment of animal life, 

 and it has therefore 

 been very aptly termed 

 " the land of living fos- 

 sils and of missing 

 links," on account of 

 the peculiarly primi- 

 tive character of its 

 fauna. It is evident 

 that the ooticoids or 

 semi-oviparous mam- 

 mals, whose young are 

 born as embryos and 

 then hatched in the 

 mother's pouch, would 

 be at an immense dis- 

 advantage with the 

 viviparous mammals in the struggle for existence. For this reason 

 the marsupials and monotremes have been gradually supplanted by 

 the more highly organized placentals wherever they have encountered 

 each other in vital competition. The study of fossils shows very 

 clearly how this process went on from age to age until it resulted in 



of one per cent, or four mills on the dollar. What will be the result of this fiscal policy 

 is yet to be determined ; but it is to be regretted that the original experiment could not 

 have been longer continued. 

 vol. lii. — 2 



Old Tom. 



