they would prove nothing as to their origin. The only fossil 

 evidence that can prove that one species has been transmuted 

 into another would be a vast number of intermediate forms 

 between two species, shading off imperceptibly into one another. 

 It is a matter of common knowledge that such a series is not 

 yielded by the rocks. So tremendous is the force of this 

 negative answer at first sight that it requires some very strong 

 counter arguments to rebut it. 



4. Imperfection of the Record. As is well known the 

 evolutionist's reply is to dwell upon the undoubted imperfec- 

 tion of the record. He can, for instance, very fairly say that 

 as no mosses have been preserved before the chalk, a great 

 series of intermediate links between algae and mosses may 

 have perished. Similar remarks apply to the lichens, fungi, 

 and many other lowly plants. Who knows, he may say, 

 what the lost pages of the great Stone book may have 

 contained ? Intermediate forms would naturally be humble, 

 insignificant plants, and it is not surprising that they have 

 not been preserved. There is something in this, and we 

 would wish it to carry its full weight to the hearer's mind. 

 Are we then to leave the question entirely open as far as 

 fossil botany is concerned ? 



5. Occasional Completeness of the Record. The best answer 

 to this seems to be that whilst admitting the general incom- 

 pleteness of the fossil history of past life, we must take care 

 not to exaggerate it. For we cannot deny that here and 

 there, at any rate, we have isolated pages, to continue our 

 metaphor, which are crowded with illustrations. One of these 

 occurs in each of the three great divisions of geologic time : 

 in the Kainozoic we have some singularly complete memorials 

 of Miocene date ; in the Mesozoic we find similar though less 

 abundant representatives of the cretaceous land-flora; and, 

 finally, in the Palaeozoic we have the confessedly rich remains of 

 the coal measures. Surely, if it can be shown that each of 

 these extinct floras is wonderfully illustrated in local strata, 

 we shall be justified in drawing all the inferences we can from 

 them. Three times the veil is withdrawn from the past, and 

 three times we catch a glimpse of the character of the rich 

 and beautiful vegetation then flourishing. 



6. Miocene Flora. In speaking of the Miocene Flora it 

 will not be necessary to repeat the information on the subject to 

 be found in all the accessible books on geology. Every one 

 who has read Lyell's Principles, or even the briefer Student's 

 Elements, will remember how fascinating the subject is. It is 

 impossible here to attempt to separate the various sub- 

 divisions of Miocene time ; we must confine ourselves to the 



