52 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



one sole survivor now remains, the summit of evolution 

 is reached in the genus ''bicycle," species "safety," variety 

 "pneumatic"! Just such a kind of succession may be 

 traced in the series of animal remains preserved in stratified 

 deposits, a few simple forms appear, drag on a lowly exist- 

 ence for a while, and then unexpectedly blossom out into an 

 infinitude of varieties ; with lapse of time these become 

 thinned out, but organisation all the time advancing there 

 results at last some happily endowed form, which supplants 

 the inferior competitors, and becomes lord and master of 

 creation. 



In the case of the machine we think we know the 

 causes of variation and inheritance, we attribute them to 

 the action of the human mind. In the case of the organic 

 world, we assert that we know not to what these processes 

 are due ; and yet, somehow, to my thinking there stands 

 behind them, connected in some incomprehensible manner, 

 but still connected, the working of a mind which is Divine. 



Professor Phillips was succeeded by Professor Prest- 

 wich, the Nestor of English Geologists, who maintained the 

 principle of Evolution in Geology, as opposed to Uniformi- 

 tarianism ; and to him followed Professor Green, whose loss 

 is still fresh and still deplored. 



The influence of Oxford on Geology has been far 

 greater than in this imperfect sketch can be made to 

 appear : she has never shut her eyes to a new theory but,, 

 whether by criticism or advocacy, has endeavoured to 

 'stablish the truth that it might prevail ; her direct con- 

 tributions to knowledge have been very many and very 

 great ; if we mentioned no other work but one ; that of The 

 Principles of Geology by the immortal Lyell, would alone 

 suffice to vindicate her fame. 



W. J. Sollas. 



