THE DAWN-ANIMAL AS A TEACHER IN SCIENCE. 229 



the life of Foraminifers still exist over two-thirds of 

 the surface of the earth. In regard to variation, we 

 have, it is true, evidence of the wide range of varieties 

 of species in Protozoa, within the limits of the group, 

 but none whatever of any tendency to pass into other 

 groups. Nor can it be proved that the conditions of 

 the ocean were so different in Cambrian or Silurian 

 times as to preclude the continued and comfortable 

 existence of Eozoon. New creatures came in which 

 superseded it, and new conditions more favourable in 

 proportion to these new creatures, but neither the new 

 creatures nor the new conditions were necessarily or 

 probably connected with Eozoon, any farther than that 

 it may have served newer tribes of animals for food, 

 and may have rid the sea of some of its superfluous 

 lime in their interest. In short, the hypothesis of evo- 

 lution will explain the derivation of other animals from 

 Eozoon if we adopt its assumptions, just as it will in 

 that case explain anything else, but the assumptions 

 are improbable, and contrary to such facts as we know. 

 Eozoon itself, however, bears some negative though 

 damaging testimony against evolution, and its argu- 

 ment may be thus stated in what we may imagine to 

 be its own expressions : " I, Eozoon Canadense, being 

 a creature of low organization and intelligence, and of 

 practical turn, am no theorist, but have a lively ap- 

 preciation of such facts as I am able to perceive. I 

 found myself growing upon the sea-bottom, and know 

 not whence I came. I grew and nourished for ages, 

 and found no let or hindrance to my expansion, and 



