120 MOSTLY MAMMALS 
analogous to those of the ocean abysses do occur in 
certain areas. And, in the second place, it was shown 
that a few oceanic islands do contain rocks like those of 
the continents, and are not solely of volcanic or organic 
‘origin. Zoological and palaeontological discoveries were at 
the same time making rapid advances; and the students 
of these branches of science, who had been among the 
foremost in giving the swing of the pendulum on the side 
of continental instability its first impulse, now began to 
press their views—only in a more moderate manner—in 
the same direction. Evidence had long been accumulating 
as to the identity of certain fresh-water formations and 
their included animal and plant remains occurring in South 
America, South Africa, India, and Australia; and it was 
urged that during the Secondary period of geological history 
not only was Africa connected with India by way of 
Madagascar and the Seychelles, but that land extended 
across what is now the South Atlantic to connect the Cape 
with South America, and that probably India was likewise 
joined to Australia by way of the Malay Archipelago and 
islands. In fact, there seems good evidence to indicate that 
at this early epoch there was a land girdle in comparatively 
low latitudes encircling some three-fourths of the earth’s 
circumference from Peru to New Zealand and Fiji. 
Even taking into account its comparatively early date, 
the existence of this girdle of land, the evidence in favour 
of which can scarcely be shaken, gave a heavy blow to 
the adherents of the absolute permanency of continents 
and oceans, as it clearly indicates the relatively modern 
origin of the basin of the South Atlantic. But this is not 
all: South America, which, as mentioned in an earlier article, 
was once more or less completely cut off from the northern 
half of the New World, shows certain indications of affinity 
