174' EVOLUTION AND DOGMA. 



Extraordinary Intercalary Forms. 



But in spite of the rarity of fossils in comparison 

 with the almost infinite number of individuals repre- 

 sented ; in spite of the paucity of fossil species as 

 compared with the total number which must have 

 existed since the advent of life ; in spite of the lim- 

 ited area of the earth which has so far been ex- 

 plored by the paleontologist, there are, as indicated 

 in the preceding chapter, many examples of inter- 

 calary forms of the most extraordinary character. 

 And all the instances adduced, be it remembered, 

 constitute so much positive evidence in behalf of 

 the theory of organic Evolution. The absence of 

 transitional varieties in certain formations is, at best, 

 but negative evidence, and such evidence is of but 

 little value, or rather it is of no value, in face of all 

 the positive evidence which recent research has 

 brought to light. Thanks to the discoveries of 

 Gaudry, Marsh, Cope and others, the number of 

 intermediate forms has, within the past few years, 

 been wonderfully augmented, and there is every 

 reason to believe that future exploration will, in like 

 manner, contribute towards filling up many of the 

 lacunae which at present are pointed to as difficulties 

 in the way of yielding rational assent to the current 

 theory of transformism. 



" Indeed, it may be asserted," Prof. Fiske truth- 

 fully observes, " as one of the most significant truths 

 of paleontology, that extinct forms are almost al- 

 ways intercalary between forms now existing. Not 

 only species, genera and families, but even orders of 



