AiraiVERSAIlT ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. CIX 



between tlie animal and vegetable creations of tlie different 

 periods in tbe earth's history. They pass gradually into one 

 another at the limits of each period, like tbe natural regions into 

 which tbe mountains are divided when we wish to describe their 

 natural products. At the same time we find everywhere a gradual 

 approach to the forms and types of tbe present day. In tbe same 

 way, as Ave look back to former ages of tbe world, we find forms 

 more and more peculiar, and different from those of the present 

 creation ; but all stand in a certain relation to each other, tbey are 

 constructed on tbe same plan. Looking at tbe various periods 

 in which diiferent forms of animal and vegetable life appear, the 

 author says that we may consider the Primary period as that of 

 the flowerless plants (Cryptogamia) and fish, the Secondary as 

 that of Monocotyledons and Reptiles, the Tertiary as that of the 

 Dicotyledonous and Mammalia, and adds, " We therefore perceive 

 in the appearance of plants and animals in tbe different ages of 

 the world a progressive law of development, from the lower and 

 more simply constructed to the higher organized beings, and since 

 tbe time when this course of development terminated in man, 

 no new species has been introduced." But this does not imj)ly 

 that the earlier forms Avere not in themselves perfect. They were 

 adapted to the then existing conditions of life, and as these became 

 more varied and changed, new forms were gradually introduced 

 while others died out. This dying-out of forms on the cessation 

 of favourable conditions of life is simple and easy to be understood. 

 Not so the law of the introduction of new forms. Tbe author then 

 considers the Darwinian theory, and points out Avhere it is not in 

 accordance with the facts which have been observed. He shows 

 that there has been no gradual fusion of forms, but a transition by 

 steps or jumps, a kind of recasting of the forms of life, within short 

 periods of time. Of the Avay in which this takes place we can form 

 no idea, but we must assume, in connexion with the great changes 

 in the form of tbe earth after long periods of rest, that there were 

 also certain periods of creation, in which the types of life were 

 recast, as well as a first period in which a creation of species took 

 place. I fear I have dwelt too long on this interesting work, and 

 yet, injustice to its merits, I could not do less than indicate the 

 contents as briefly as possible. 



The second volume of M. d'Arcbiac's work, ' Cours de Paleou- 

 tologie Stratigrapbique,' has been published at Paris during tbe 

 past year. The first volume bad given us the history of Strati- 

 graphical Palaeontology, and contained the whole literature of tbe 

 subject, from the eai-liest period of antiquity doAvn to tbe present 

 time, as treated of in the diff'orout countries of Europe and 

 America. The second volume refers rather to geological principles, 

 and to that special knowledge which should precede the study of 

 Palaeontology, and tbe organic phenomena of the present day 

 which are connected with it : subjects of great diversity, but all of 

 which may elucidate and complete it, and help to explain the past 

 by the knowledge of the present. 



