COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



islands, there must inevitably ensue a marked 

 change in the conditions of existence in both 

 regions. Extinction will go on at a relatively- 

 rapid pace ; and, as above illustrated, this ex- 

 tinction must ordinarily result in the disappear- 

 ance of intermediate forms and the preservation 

 of extremes. After a while this process must 

 result in the establishment of an approximate 

 equilibrium among the forms of life over both 

 areas, such as formerly obtained over each area 

 separately. And thus for a long time to come, 

 the specific changes occurring will again be few 

 and unimportant. 



Thus we see graphically illustrated the truth 

 that, in comparison with the myriads of individ- 

 uals comprising the well-defined species which 

 propagate themselves through long ages with 

 relative stability of character, the number of 

 intermediate individuals which ever come into 

 existence must be relatively small. We have 

 next to note that, even of this relatively small 

 number of individuals, a still smaller relative 

 number are likely to leave after death a per- 

 manent fossil record of their existence. 



In the first place it is only by a rare com- 

 bination of circumstances that any plant or ani- 

 mal gets fossilized at all. The chances were 

 nearly infinite against the preservation of any 

 of the very earliest organisms, with their soft 

 and speedily decaying textures. The higher 

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