368 



uevv species is important, and their correct descriptioii* 

 and accurate Identification absolute] y necessary. The 

 most obscure and miuute species are for this purpose 

 of equal value vvith the largest and most brilliant, and 

 a correct knowledsre of the distribution and variations 

 oi' a beetle or a butterfly as important as those of the 

 eagle or the elephant. It is to the elucidation of these 

 apparent anomalies that the efForts of the philosophic 

 naturalist are directed; and we think, that if this hig- 

 hest branch of our science were more frequently all uded 

 to by writers on natural history, its connexion with 

 geography and geology discussed, and the various in- 

 teresting problems thence arising explained, the too 

 prevalent idea — that Natural History is at best but an 

 amusement, a trivial an aimless pursuit, a useless ac- 

 cumulating of barren facts , — would give place to more 

 correct views of a study, whicli presents problems as 

 vast , as intricate , and as interestinsr as anv to which 

 the human mind can be directed , whose objects are as 

 infinite as the stars of heaven and infinitely diversified, 

 and whose field of research extends over the whole earth , 

 Dot only as it now exists , but also during the count- 

 less changes it has undergone from the earliest geolo- 

 gical epochs. 



Let us now examine if the theories of modern na- 

 turalists will explain the phtrnomena of the Aru and 

 New Guinea fauna. We know (with a degree of know- 

 ledge approaching to certainty) that at a comparatively 

 recent geological period , not one single species of the 

 present organic world was in existence; while all the 

 Vertchrata now existing have had their origin still mo- 

 re recently. How do we account for the places where 



