1 62 The Scottish Naturalist. 



period at least seem in a fair way of being arrived at ; and no 

 doubt, as further research is made by the various National Surveys y 

 the doubtful points relative to that period will be cleared up ; and 

 knowledge will be more and more increased with regard to the 

 secondary and primary periods of geological history. 



If the subject of Palaeontology then be simply a branch of the 

 wider Science of Biology, in what sense may a Geologist treat of 

 the fossils which he will constantly meet with in his examination 

 of the earth's crust? Obviously from two points of view. First,, 

 and less important, in so far as they form actual rock-masses, i.e. } 

 limestone and chalk. Secondly, as guides to the establishment 

 of the correct order of superposition of strata. 



In the remarks with which Dr. Geikie follows up his definition 

 of Palaeontology, he refers in few words to the biological as con- 

 trasted with the physical aspects of Palaeontology, and consistently 

 discusses under the head of Palaeontology only the physical 

 aspect of the subject. The biological aspect is, however, dealt 

 with fully in the section on Stratigraphical Geology, a procedure 

 which is justifiable on the ground that biologists have not yet 

 learnt that it is their duty to furnish the geologists with a complete 

 account of the structure, affinities and classification of extinct 

 forms so far as circumstances permit them to do so. 



Hitherto I have treated this subject solely from a theoretical 

 point of view ; and although in theory it may seem advisable to 

 unite Biology and Palaeontology, yet in practice it might be inex- 

 pedient to alter their present status. 



I shall endeavour now to show that not only is it possible and 

 expedient to unite the study and teaching of Palaeontology and 

 Biology, but that the advantages to be gained by such a union are 

 such as to fully justify the alterations that would be required. 



There can be no question, I think, but that the gain to Geology 

 would be great. For not only would the time at present spent on 

 palaeontological studies be available for the study of the more 

 important phenomena of structural and dynamical Geology, but 

 the geologist would be spared the necessity, and perfectly needless 

 labour, of acquiring a knowledge at first-hand, of the innumerable 

 fossils, whose meaningless names must have suggested emphatically 

 enough that they are the veritable dry bones of Biology. 



Now that the order of superposition of rocks has been ascer- 

 tained, what need to repeat in every course of lectures, in every 



