488 THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE. 



which we before saw is indicated by the geological record, is 

 equally indicated by the relation between existing organic 

 types and organic types of the epochs preceding our own. 

 The evidence completely accords with the belief in a descent 

 of present life from past life. Doubtless such a 



kinship is not incongruous with the doctrine of special crea- 

 tions. It may be argued that the introduction, from time to 

 time, of new species better fitted to the somewhat changed 

 conditions of the Earth's surface, would result in an apparent 

 alliance between our living Flora and Fauna, and the Floras 

 and Faunas that lately lived. No one can deny it. But on 

 passing from the most general aspect of the alliance to its 

 more special aspects, we shall find this interpretation com- 

 pletely negatived. 



For besides a close kinship between the aggregate of sur- 

 viving forms and the aggregate of forms which have died out 

 in recent geologic times; there is a peculiar connexion of 

 like nature between present and past forms in each great 

 geographical region. The instructive fact, before cited from 

 Mr. Darwin, is the " wonderful relationship in the same con- 

 tinent between the dead and the living." This relationship 

 is not explained by the supposition that new species have 

 been at intervals supernaturally placed in each habitat, as the 

 habitat became modified; since, as we saw, species are by no 

 means uniformly found in the habitats to which they are best 

 adapted. It cannot be said that the marsupials imbedded in 

 recent Australian strata, having become extinct because of 

 unfitness to some new external condition, the existing mar- 

 supials were then specially created to fit the modified en- 

 vironment; since sundry animals found elsewhere are so 

 much more in harmony with these new Australian condi- 

 tions that, when taken to Australia, they rapidly extrude the 

 marsupials. While, therefore, the similarity between the 

 existing Australian Fauna and the Fauna which immediately 

 preceded it over the same area, is just that which the belief 

 in evolution leads us to expect; it is a similarity which 



