x .] GEOLOGICAL CONTEMPORANEITY. 179 



In anatomy, where such correspondence of position has con 

 stantly to be spoken of, it is denoted by the word &quot; homology &quot; 

 and its derivatives ; and for Geology (which after all is only the 

 anatomy and physiology of the earth) it might be well to invent 

 some single word, such as &quot; homotaxis &quot; (similarity of order), in 

 order to express an essentially similar idea. This, however, has 

 not been done, and most probably the inquiry will at once be 

 niade To what end burden science with a new and strange 

 term in place of one old, familiar, and part of our common 

 language ? 



The reply to this question will become obvious as the inquiry 

 into the results of palaeontology is pushed further. 



Those whose business it is to acquaint themselves specially 

 with the works of palaeontologists, in fact, will be fully aware 

 that very few, if any, would rest satisfied with such a statement 

 of the conclusions of their branch of biology as that which has 

 just been given. 



Our standard repertories of palaeontology profess to teach us 

 far higher things to disclose the entire succession of living 

 forms upon the surface of the globe ; to tell us of a wholly 

 different distribution of climatic conditions in ancient times ; to 

 reveal the character of the first of all living existences ; and to 

 trace out the law of progress from them to us. 



It may not be unprofitable to bestow on these professions a 

 somewhat more critical examination than they have hitherto 

 received, in order to ascertain how far they rest on an irrefragable 

 basis ; or whether, after all, it might not be well for palaeonto 

 logists to learn a little more carefully that scientific &quot; ars artium,&quot; 

 the art of saying &quot; I don t know.&quot; And to this end let us define 

 somewhat more exactly the extent of these pretensions of 

 palaeontology. 



Every one is aware that Professor Bronn s &quot; Untersuchungen &quot; 

 and Professor Pictet s &quot; Traite de Paleontologie &quot; are works of 

 standard authority, familiarly consulted by every working palae 

 ontologist. It is desirable to speak of these excellent books, and 

 of their distinguished authors, with the utmost respect, and in a 



N 2 



