n6 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



tory of man is too meagre to record more than slight indications of 

 a process of change which, if continued for a time equal to those 

 ages which were required to bring about the great alterations 

 in the topography and in the forms of animal and vegetable life 

 already considered, would be as radical and evident as are those 

 of the past periods of the earth's history which, in the preceding 

 pages, we have endeavored to portray. 



An eminent naturalist of Amsterdam, Holland, in a recent 

 publication, has given the results of a long and careful series of 

 experiments, and from his conclusions in relation to the origin of 

 new species of plants I quote as follows : 



"Plants undergo very long periods of constancy alternately 

 with periods in which new species may be produced.,' And that, 

 "Each species has originated from another at such a time." For 

 this it is held that it is not necessary that the mother species be 

 changed in any way, but that it may continue with all its former 

 characteristics unchanged. 



His observations were made from plants growing in natural 

 conditions, as well as seed collected from wild plants and sown 

 in gardens. He has originated from the original wild species 

 twelve distinct forms which have come true to seed. The conclu- 

 sion is drawn that species originate suddenly without intermediate 

 forms or any other preparation. From the beginning they remain 

 unchanged during the subsequent generations. 



"Mutation seems to take place in various directions, and 

 not in any predetermined manner." (Proc, Sec. Sci. Koninkl. 

 Akad. Wetersch. Amsterdam, 1901, iii, pp. 245-247.) 



FOSSIL PLANTS. 



The fossil plants of a given region are not as definitely in- 

 dicative of the comparative duration, and the dividing lines be- 

 tween the minor geological epochs as are the fossil animals, but 

 they serve as valuable records of the well defined periods and 

 ages of the earth's history. The fossil remains of animals may 

 be likened to the paragraphs of a book of which the fossil plants 

 resemble the chapters. Or, the records of the lives of fossil 

 animals may be considered as representing the minutes, and those 

 of the plants as the hours of the day in considering the geological 

 history of the earth. 



The science of palaeontology is in its infancy, and much 

 remains to be discovered and studied before the geological history 

 of the earth can be satisfactorily translated and transcribed for 

 man's reading. 



One of the most noted localities for fine fossil remains, and 

 one which also represents some of the most interesting and in- 

 structive lessons in the history of the world, is the Isle of Shep- 



