129 



* It appears therefore, that the total number of known existing 

 species being about 3000, the number of fossil species is about 1300. 

 And the author states, among other inferences from his Tables, that 

 the ancient period is characterized by the complex shells, the middle 

 by bivalves, the upper strata by the simple univalves ; while, as we 

 descend in the series of strata, we recede from the existing forms and 

 proportions of numbers; 134? complex species out of 237 being 

 found in the ancient beds, and only 147 out of 1028 in the more 

 recent. These numbers, it will be observed, are connected with 

 the system of Linnaeus, and will probably be found to differ con- 

 siderably from an enumeration according to the method of Lamarck: 

 and the time perhaps is still remote, when any such comparison of 

 numbers can be expected to come near the truth. The proportion 

 of the known species to the total number, either of the existing or 

 the fossil shells, is the result of circumstances in a great measure 

 accidental, — the industry or success of collectors, and the greater 

 or less extent to which the contents of the conchiferous strata are 

 brought to light by human labour, or naturally disclosed : and all 

 these sources of inequality must for a long time affect the different 

 strata so unequally, that any general inferences now derived from 

 the enumeration of species must be received with considerable quali- 

 fication. 



The Council has mentioned to you the late addition to the 

 Museum, of a splendid series of casts of fossil remains, presented 

 by the Baron Cuvier, and doubly valuable from their connexion 

 with his own publications. These, in fact, are but continued 

 proofs of the interest which that illustrious naturalist has always 

 taken in the progress of this Society ; and few of us have ever visited 

 the French capital, without partaking, in person, of his hospitality, 

 and deriving advantage from his aid in our inquiries. When the 

 state of knowledge which many of us can remember, is contrasted 

 with what we know at present respecting fossil organized remains, — 

 now that we have acquired the power of determining from a single 

 bone, or even a fragment, almost the entire structure and relations of 

 animals, whose races are no longer in existence ; — and when we re- 

 collect, that we owe to the same person the most complete history 

 of fossil remains that has ever yet appeared, in richness of matter, in 

 arrangement, and in style ; and that all this is but a part of what one 

 man has already performed, — we cannot be surprised at the emi- 

 nence which he occupies in public opinion. The name of Cuvier 

 is in fact identified with our subject ; for, unquestionably, to no one 

 now living is Geology so much indebted as to him : and he enjoys 

 the enviable good fortune, not only of receiving from every side 

 the tribute of admiration and gratitude arising from his works, but 

 of witnessing himself the influence which they have shed, and are 

 every day producing, on all the kindred departments of science, and 

 in almost every quarter of the globe. 



On the subject of Fossil Plants, we have heard, during the last 

 session, a valuable Paper; and there are, at present, before the 

 Society, several new specimens, which it is intended to figure and 



