REVIEWS. 



407 



* * * " With, regard to distribution * * * from the beginning different 

 regions have been peopled, partly by identical, and partly by representative 

 species." 



Admitting that external conditions have never been uniform, Mr. Page goes on 

 to the introduction of 'new life-forms. Here the question naturally arises, as each 

 geological epoch is characterized by its own peculiar plants and animals, 

 " Whether there are independant creations, or whether there is in nature some 

 law of development by which, during the lapse of ages, and under the change 

 of physical conditions, the lower may not be developed into the higher species, 

 the simpler into the more complex ?" Mr. Pa^e thinks " geology is not in a 

 position to solve the problem of vital gradation and progress." We think 

 differently from that gentleman, at least to this extent, that geology has already 

 collected considerable materials indicating the reply which, to our minds, un- 

 doubtedly it ultimately will give. Of course it is a delicate point to deal with, 

 and the highway here is a far easier road than the faintly -tracked path we might 

 be inclined to pursue. We do not hint even that Mr. Page is not sincere in 

 what he writes, but his logic is not quite as good on this topic as it might be. 

 Why we do not pretend to say, but certain it is that modern geologists do not 

 always — cannot, or will not, perhaps — write logically. Perhaps they think one 

 way and write the other in deference to popular opinion ; if so, we are not 

 surprised at their logic being bad ; but whatever the cause, as a rule they are 

 eminently not good logicians. We do not understand how Mr. Page can 

 logically insist on " new creations" of organized forms on one page, and on the 

 opposite repudiate the terms " extinction" and " creation" as applied to the 

 races of organic beings of geological periods. "We must not," he tells us, 

 " fall into the common but mistaken notion that the flora and fauna of one 

 period were utterly extinguished before the commencement of the next. There 

 are no such extinctions and re-creations in nature." 



These reflections lead our author to the " Development Hypothesis," which 

 in this present review is a subject that we will leave alone. As we will also 

 the " acceptance of vital hypothesis." The pages, however, which we skip 

 may be read with profit and interest. We pass over also the "Advent 

 of Man," as the details of flint-implements and other items of this 

 topic have been, and are being, fully dealt with in the pages of this magazine. 

 Neither will we go into other questions which Mr. Page eloquently discusses 

 — " Time Geological," " Course of Creation," " Creation still in Progress," 

 "Duration of Species," "Term of the Human Race," "Influence of Man on 

 the Future," "Progression or Succession," although we give their titles to 

 show what interesting subjects he has selected, but we pass at once to the last 

 of his work before he writes its conclusion — " Onward and Upward," and in 

 the sentiment of which we fully concur. 



" Ignorant of the teachings of geology and the great progression it unfolds, 

 mankind have hitherto regarded the scheme of life as culminating and termi- 

 nating with their own race. All or nearly all the hopes that give colouring to 

 their thoughts and direction to their actions proceed from this belief, though 

 in strictest science the belief itself rests on no logical foundation. It is true, 

 one of our highest biological authorities (Professor Agassiz) e thinks it can be 

 shown by anatomical evidence, that man is not only the last and highest among 

 the living beings of the present period, but that he is the last term of a series, 

 beyond which there is no material progress possible in accordance with the 

 plan upon which the whole animal kingdom is constructed ; and that the only 

 improvement we can look for upon earth for the future, must consist in the 

 development of man's intellectual and moral faculties.' This, however, is a 

 mere plausible assertion ; the e anatomical evidence' is not produced ; and every 

 one cognisant of the history of man knows that intellectual and moral deve- 



