170 THE DAWN OF LIFE. 



have mucli knowledge of tlie structure of foramini- 

 feral shells, or would be able under the microscope to 

 recognise them with certainty. Nor have they any 

 distinct ideas of the appearances of such structures 

 under different kinds of preservation and mineralisa- 

 tion. Further, they have long been accustomed to 

 regard the so-called Azoic rocks as not only destitute 

 of organic remains, but as being in such a state of 

 metamorphism that these could not have been pre- 

 served had they existed. Few, therefore, are able 

 intelligently to decide for themselves, and so they are 

 called on to trust to the investigations of others, and 

 on their testimony to modify in a marked degree their 

 previous beliefs as to the duration of life on our planet. 

 In these circumstances it is rather wonderful that the 

 researches made with reference to Eozoon have met 

 with so general acceptance, and that the resurrection 

 of this ancient inhabitant of the earth has not aroused 

 more of the sceptical tendency of our age. 



It must not be lost sight of, however, that in such 

 cases there may exist a large amount of undeveloped 

 and even unconscious scepticism, which shows itself 

 not in active opposition, but merely in quietly ignoring 

 this great discovery, or regarding it with doubt, as an 

 uncertain or unestablished point in science. Such 

 scepticism may best be met by the plain and simple 

 statements in the foregoing chapters, and by the illus- 

 trations accompanying them. It may nevertheless be | 

 profitable to review some of the points referred to, and 

 to present some considerations making the existence of 



* 



