432 Proceedings. 



Can the explanation of such close si)pcific resemLlance not be found, in 

 many instances at least, in the adoption of more simi)le natural causes, such as 

 the transport by icebergs or on floating islands, by birds, etc., and of which 

 Sir Charles Lyell, in his great work, the " Principles of Geology," gives many 

 striking instiuices*? However, where the theory of land connection is not 

 admissible, and where also others, which have hitherto been applied, fail, 

 might we not assume that similar climatic and other physical conditions 

 could produce similar specific characters under the great law of evolution'? 

 It is a most difficult problem to say what constitutes a species, and therefore 

 might it not be safer to believe, until the impossibility of such an hypothesis has 

 been demonstrated satisfactorily, that there exists a similitude as well as an 

 identity of species under cei'tain given conditions 1 



In one word, might we not throw out the conjecture that in two more or 

 less distant countries, which never were directly united, some forms of organic 

 life can and do exist, which show what to us appear identical specific 

 characters, because the cause or causes of their evolution were identical or 

 nearly identical, and thus a considerable number of supposed changes in the 

 level of many countries, of which we do not find geological records, can be 

 dispensed withi It is true that instances to be explained by the migration or 

 accident theories are of more frequent occurrence and moi-e easily proved, but 

 I think it would be just as interesting, where these cannot be admitted, to 

 trace in all its bearings the similitude of species in distant countries. This 

 view would at least open up a field of fresh research, and afibrd a new 

 illustration and confirmation of the great theory of evolution. 



Some discussion then took place on the address. 



Mr. Maskell stated that he had undertaken on behalf of the society to 

 write a history of Canterbury, but he had since come to the determination to 

 give up the task, inasmuch as the Province was yet too young to peruiit of 

 anything but a history of dry details being written. 



