120 MOSTLY MAMMALS 



analogous to those of the ocean abysses do occur in 

 certain areas. And, in the second place, it was shown 

 that a few oceanic islands do contain rocks like those of 

 the continents, and are not solely of volcanic or organic 

 origin. Zoological and palaeontological discoveries were at 

 the same time making rapid advances; and the students 

 of these branches of science, who had been among the 

 foremost in giving the swing of the pendulum on the side 

 of continental instability its first impulse, now began to 

 press their views — only in a more moderate manner — in 

 the same direction. Evidence had long been accumulating 

 as to the identity of certain fresh-water formations and 

 their included animal and plant remains occurring in South 

 America, South Africa, India, and Australia ; and it was 

 urged that during the Secondary period of geological history 

 not only was Africa connected with India by way of 

 Madagascar and the Seychelles, but that land extended 

 across what is now the South Atlantic to connect the Cape 

 with South America, and that probably India was likewise 

 joined to Australia by way of the Malay Archipelago and 

 islands. In fact, there seems good evidence to indicate that 

 at this early epoch there was a land girdle in comparatively 

 low latitudes encircling some three-fourths of the earth's 

 circumference from Peru to New Zealand and Fiji. 



Even taking into account its comparatively early date, 

 the existence of this girdle of land, the evidence in favour 

 of which can scarcely be shaken, gave a heavy blow to 

 the adherents of the absolute permanency of continents 

 and oceans, as it clearly indicates the relatively modern 

 origin of the basin of the South Atlantic. But this is not 

 all : South America, which, as mentioned in an earlier article, 

 was once more or less completely cut off from the northern 

 half of the New World, shows certain indications of affinity 



