174. 
they would prove nothing as to their origin. The only fossil 
evidence that can prove that one species has been transmuted 
into another would be a vast number of intermediate forms 
between two species, shading off imperceptibly into one another. 
It is a matter of common knowledge that such a series is not 
yielded by the rocks, So. tremendous is the force of this 
negative answer at first sight that it requires some very strong 
counter arguments to rebut it. 
A. Imperfection of the Record.—As is well known, the 
evolutionist’s reply is to dwell upon the undoubted imperfec- 
tion of the record. He can, for instance, very fairly say that, 
as no mosses have been preserved before the chalk, a great 
series of intermediate links between algze and mosses may 
have perished. Similar remarks apply to the lichens, fungi, 
and many other lowly plants. Who knows, he may say, 
what the lost pages of the great Stone book may have 
contained? Intermediate forms would naturally be humble, 
insignificant plants, and it is not surprising that they have 
not been preserved. There is something in this, and we 
would wish it to carry its full weight to the hearer’s mind. 
Are we, then, to leave the question entirely open as far as 
fossil botany is concerned ? 
5. Occasional Completeness of the Record.—The best answer 
to this seems to be that, whilst admitting the general incom- 
pleteness of the fossil history of past life, we must take care 
not to exaggerate it. For we cannot deny that here and 
there, at any rate, we have isolated pages, to continue our 
metaphor, which are crowded with illustrations. One of these 
occurs in each of the three great divisions of geologic time: 
in the Kainozoic we have some singularly complete memorials 
of Miocene date; in the Mesozoic we find similar though less 
abundant representatives of the cretaceous land flora; and, 
finally, in the Palaeozoic we have the confessedly rich remains of 
the coal measures. Surely, if it can be shown that each of 
these extinct floras is wonderfully illustrated in local strata, 
we shall be justified in drawing all the inferences we can from 
them. ‘Three times the veil is withdrawn from the past, and 
three times we catch a glimpse of the character of the rich 
and beautiful vegetation then flourishing. , 
6. Miocene Flora.—In speaking of the Miocene flora it 
will not be necessary to repeat the information on the subject to 
be found in all the accessible books on geology. Hvery one 
who has read Lyell’s Principles, or even the briefer Student’s 
Elements, will remember how fascinating the subject is. It is 
impossible here to attempt to separate the various sub- 
divisions of Miocene time; we must confine ourselves to the 
