In the short time now at my command, I can only attempt 

 to present a rapid sketch of the principal steps in the progress 

 of this science. The literature of the subject, especially in 

 connection with the discussions it provoked, is voluminous, 

 and an outline of the history itself must suffice for my present 

 purpose. 



In looking over the records of Palaeontology, its history may 

 conveniently be divided into four periods, well marked by 

 prominent features, but, like all stages of intellectual growth, 

 without definite boundaries. 



The first period, dating back to the time when men first 

 noticed fossil remains in the rocks, and queried as to their 

 nature, is of special historic interest. The most prominent 

 characteristic of this period was, a long and bitter contest as 

 to the nature of fossil remains. Were they mere " sports of 

 Nature," or had they once been endowed with life 1 Simple as 

 this problem uow seems, centuries passed before the wise men 

 of that time were agreed upon its solution. 



Sea shells in the solid rock on the tops of mountains early 

 attracted the attention of the ancients, and the learned men 

 among them seem to have appreciated in some instances 

 their true character, and given rational explanations of their 

 presence. 



The philosopher Zenophanes, of Colophon, who lived about 

 500 B. C, mentions the remains of fishes and other animals 

 in the stone quarries near Syracuse ; the impression of an 

 anchovy in the rock of Paros, and various marine fossils at 

 other places. His conclusion from these facts was, that the 

 surface of the earth had once been in a soft condition at the 

 bottom of the sea ; and thus the objects mentioned were 

 entombed. Herodotus, half a century later, speaks of marine 

 shells on the hills of Egypt, and over the Libyan desert, and he 

 inferred therefrom that the sea had once covered that whole 

 region. Empedocles, of Agrigentum (450 B. C), believed 



