

EVIDENCES OF EVOLUTION 21 



the evolutionary assumption of diffusion from 

 the original centre, and of transformation into 

 new species in relation to the new conditions 

 encountered. Some of the particular cases leap 

 to the eye, but they are unmeaning conun- 

 drums without the evolutionist clue. Darwin 

 has, in fact, brought us more nearly back to 

 the Noah's ark of our childhood than we 

 commonly realize; for do not all these 

 stories of thrushes, lizards and what not 

 quaintly recall the origin of human races from 

 the dispersion of Shem, Ham and Japheth ? 



In Mesozoic times, when there were no 

 Mammals higher than Marsupials, Australia 

 was separated off from the Asiatic continent. 

 Therefore it is that there are no higher 

 Mammals in Australia, except the somewhat 

 mysterious dingo, the bats, which find the sea 

 no barrier, and the rabbits, for which man 

 is responsible. 



A final argument is furnished by the con- 

 trast in the fauna and flora of oceanic and of 

 continental islands. The former, being usually 

 of volcanic origin, have always a very dis- 

 tinctive fauna and flora, which Wallace has 

 explained as being due to the fortuitous con- 

 tributions borne from diverse quarters by 

 currents, winds and birds. Other islands, 

 which are isolated pieces of continents, have 



