96 Hypothetical Continents. 



a still greater geographical range, several species of it having 

 been obtained from both hemispheres. 



Unfortunately no species of lemur has yet been discovered 

 in the fossil state, although it is in accordance with all analogy 

 to infer that they existed during the tertiary period.* New- 

 world monkeys of pliocene age have been found in South 

 America, but not elsewhere; and old-world monkeys have been 

 found in Europe, as we have seen, and in Asia in miocene and 

 more recent deposits. So far as we know, therefore, new- 

 world monkeys never have existed in the old world, nor old- 

 world monkeys in the new ; and we have no certain record of 

 any quadrumana during the miocene period. Had the Atlantis 

 existed during the miocene period, it would be strange to find 

 the distinctive features in the distribution of the monkeys of 

 the two hemispheres still preserved ; but if the Atlantis was of 

 eocene date — before monkeys lived on the existing continents — ■ 

 then the differences in the distribution and structure of the 

 Catarrhini and Platyrhini cease to be marvellous. 



These facts show that it is possible to account for the 

 American affinities of certain of the vertebrates of Madagascar 

 by supposing their ancestors to have come to Europe from 

 America by the eocene Atlantis, and to have travelled thence to 

 India, Africa, and Madagascar at a later period. The affinities 

 of the European tertiary insects are in favour of this view, 

 which is also curiously confirmed by the fact that the lemurs, 

 which are not known in the fossil state, are confined in the 

 living state to the old world ; and if they are ever discovered 

 fossil, it probably will be in the eastern hemisphere ; while 

 most, if not all, of the Madagascarian animals having allies in 

 the new world are known to have been represented, more or 

 less closely, in eocene and miocene times. 



There is no physical evidence in support of the hypothetical 

 continent Lemuria, while, as we have seen, the eocene Atlantic 

 continent was suggested by Mr. Searles Wood, junior, almost 

 entirely on physical grounds. That India may have been 

 connected at some not very remote period with the Mascarene 

 Islands, Madagascar, and Africa, is, however, extremely 

 probable. Such a connection no doubt existed when the 

 Glossopteris flourished in South Africa, Central India, and 

 Australia, and it may have continued to a comparatively recent 

 period, or have been reproduced in tertiary times, or the 

 connection may have been similar to what exists at present. 



Our knowledge of the geology and palaeontology of Mada- 



* Prof. Riittmeyer has announced the discovery of the remains of an eocene 

 monkey allied to the lemurs ; but although this face would add considerably to 

 the strength of my argument, caution forbids me to quote it until its truth has 

 been placed beyond doubt. 



