Time and the Geological Record 301 



times. At the same time plants and trees appear, and insects. 

 Next the amphibians develop into forms known to us by fos- 

 sils of great land reptiles. The trees and plants become more 

 advanced and early primitive types of mammals and of 

 birds appear. The mammals become more numerous and 

 more highly developed as the reptiles become fewer and 

 smaller. And at last animals and plants of modern types 

 are found in the latest era (and not earlier) ; and in the 

 latest period of that era remains of man appear, together 

 with those of existing species of animals and plants. 



Between the distinct orders are found numerous forms by 

 which they merge one step from another; the later from the 

 earlier — just as today we may see the amphibious frog 

 develop from the distinctly aquatic tadpole. There are 

 however many gaps where no links connect. This is to be 

 expected. The record has been often destroyed or sus- 

 pended for long ages. One of these gaps occurs between 

 man and the highest of other mammals. The apes and 

 monkeys do not supply the connecting \\i\k. Man, erect 

 standing and fast running, upon feet which are radically 

 different from hands, with large development of hip and 

 thigh, and comparatively small power of arm, is of struc- 

 ture widely different from the nearest ape, and the intellec- 

 tual faculties of even the lowest races of men show a still 

 greater gap. It is notable that man appears somewhat 

 abruptly in the geological record, and very late. This might 

 well be due to his having developed for ages in some 

 favorable place, such as a large island comparatively free 

 from enemies ; a land such as might have preceded some 

 of the Australasian archipelagoes, where the relics have not 



