894 PERSISTENT TYPES OF LIFE 



living beings which have occupied this globe, as the existing 

 fauna and flora do to them. 



Such are the results of paleontology as they appear, and 

 have for some years appeared, to the mind of an inquirer 

 who regards that study simply as one of the applications of 

 the great biological sciences, and who desires to see it placed 

 upon the same sound basis as other branches of physical 

 inquiry. If the arguments which have been brought 

 forward are valid, probably no one, in view of the present 

 state of opinion, will be inclined to think the time wasted 

 which has been spent upon their elaboration. 



