AGE OF THE ORGANIC WORLD 25 



fifty-five millions of years ago, it is possible that after a 

 short existence as almost boiling water they grew colder 

 and colder, till they became covered with thick ice, and 

 moved only in obedience to the tides. The earth, frozen 

 arid dark, except for the red glow of her volcanos, waited 

 the coming of the sun, and it was not till his growing 

 splendour had banished the long night that the cheerful 

 sound of running waters was heard again in our midst. 

 Then the work of denudation and deposition seriously 

 recommenced, not to cease till the life of the sun is spent. 

 Thus the thickness of the stratified series may be a 

 measure rather of the duration of sunlight than of the 

 period which has elapsed since the first formation of the 

 ocean. It may have been so we cannot tell but it 

 may be fairly urged that we know less of the origin, 

 history, and constitution of the sun than of the earth 

 itself, and that, for aught we can say to the contrary, the 

 sun may have been shining on the just-formed ocean as 

 cheerfully as he shines to-day. 



But, it will be asked, how far does a period of twenty- 

 six millions satisfy the demands of biology ? Speaking 

 only for myself, although I am aware that eminent 

 biologists are not wanting who share this opinion, I 

 answer, Amply. But it will be exclaimed, Surely there 

 are " comparisons in things." Look at Egypt, where 

 more than 4,000 years ago the same species of man and 

 animals lived and flourished as to-day. Examine the 

 frescos and study the living procession of familiar forms 

 they so faithfully portray, and then tell us, how comes 

 it about that from changes so slow as to be inappreciable 

 in the lapse of forty centuries you propose to build up the 

 whole organic world in the course of a mere twenty-six 

 millions of years? To all which we might reply that 

 even changeless Egypt presents us with at least one 

 change the features of the ruling race to-day are not 



