NEW HOLLAND IN EUROPE. 49 
they found in that continent, probably then little developed, additions 
to their numbers. 
But Europe of tlie Eocene period received the plants which spread 
over its mountains and plains, valleys and river-banks^ neither ex- 
clnsively from tlie soutli nor from the east. The west also furnished 
additions, and if these were at that period rather meagre, they show, 
at all events, that the bridge was already building, which, at a later 
period, was to facilitate communication between the two continents in 
such a remarkable manner. At that time some plants of the western 
continent began to reach Europe by means of the island of Atlantis, then 
probably just rising above the ocean. The numerous Hickories, Maples, 
Oaks, Poplars, Nyssacece and Tapilionace{E^ etc, can have reached us 
only from a western centre of creation. Europe thus became in all 
probability the furthest limit attained by the outposts and colonists of 
three great centres of creation, situated at about equal distances from 
each other, and the place Avliere they met and amalgamated with each 
other. Europe, without being a centre of creation, thus received the 
impress of the peculiarities of three great continents. In returning 
now to my original theme, ** New Holland in Europe," it will be evi- 
dent with what show of reason I could speak of a conquest of Europe 
by the army of a continent so distant. But, with equal justice, the 
same may be said of Asia and America ; they, too, have visited Europe, 
have made themselves at home there, and impressed upon it their cha- 
racteristics, though their occupation, strictly speaking, took place only 
tnfter the Australian had ceased. The former conquest, besides the 
interest attaching to its being the first, is remarkable and venerable 
also by its beiug effected by organisms which had made their first ap- 
pearances in the \v'orld, and which in comparison to their predecessors 
were more highly developed, — for the vegetation of New Holland, as 
mentioned, belongs to the great modern geological period. 
But, however it was that the whole of Australia gained its influence 
and extended it so far north, it has a deep significance for New Holland,- 
now cut off from all continental connection, than is generally supposed. 
Australia, on account of its isolated geographical position, strange 
productions, curious physical character, and the low degree of develop- 
ment attained by its flora and fauna, must not be regarded as a new, 
hardly -born island, but as a country in its senility, which from time 
immemorial has endeavoured to retain its character unchanged. New 
VOL. III. [fEBEIJAEY 1, 1SG5.] E 
