286 ANTARCTICA. 



existence of glacial conditions in this part of Gondwanaland, 

 which thus acted as an impediment to migration. 



This land bridge, judging from the results of evolution in 

 the American and South African forms respectively, would seem 

 to have broken down. 



It is interesting to note here that in the Bokkeveld beds, 

 which lie immediately above the Table Mountain sandstones, 

 there occur fossils which are identical with forms found in the 

 Devonian rocks of the Falkland Islands. These fossils were 

 inhabitants of sea waters, and it is highly possible that their 

 occurrence in both areas may indicate a common shore line to 

 both the land areas whence these sediments were derived. This 

 is, of course, uncertain, but if it did exist this common land 

 bridge of Devonian times would represent that mentioned above 

 as existing in Permo-Carboniferous times. 



One of the most important discoveries in connection with 

 this problem is that of fossil plants, as mentioned earlier, in the 

 Antarctic regions. In addition to the forms found in Antarctica, 

 others which existed contemporaneously with them are known 

 from South America, India, and Australia in common with South 

 Africa. The Glossopteris flora which flourished in the same 

 areas during Permo-Carboniferous times is regarded as having 

 originated in the Southern Hemisphere. This is very significant 

 when we bear in mind that previously these areas had been 

 peopled by the same kind of flora as the Northern Hemisphere. 

 This Glossopteris flora grew in such abundance as to constitute 

 the material which gave rise to the Coal Measures of the 

 Southern Hemisphere, as, for instance, in New South Wales. 

 The Glossopteris flora reached Europe at a later date. We have 

 yet no record from Antarctica, but it is most highly probable that 

 the Coal Measures which have been discovered will, ere this, have 

 yielded to Scott's expedition proof of the existence of the same 

 in Antarctica. 



When we realise that the same genera and species of this 

 flora have been found in the various Southern continents, and in 

 rocks of the same age as indicated by their relation to the glacial 

 beds, nothing but a land connection will give a satisfactory ex- 

 planation. Similar conditions prevailed in the various areas, so 

 that along a land connection the newly-evolved forms spread with 

 rapidity and flourished. 



The fact that the time during which this flora flourished in 

 the various areas coincides with that during which, on zoological 

 grounds, a continuous southern land mass is postulated to have 

 existed, is very significant. 



We have, then every reason to believe in the existence of a 

 continuous Southern land in Permo-Carboniferous times, but 

 that the trans-Atlantic portion early broke down. Across this 

 land tract we can picture the migration of many forms which are 

 •preserved to us in their primitive condition. Among these we 

 may note Peripatus — a form which occupies such an important 



