( 287 ) 
Art. IX .— Remarks illustrative of the Influence of Society on 
the Distribution of British Animals. By the Rev. John 
Fleming, D. D. E. R. S. E. M. W. S. &c. 
It is customary with antiquaries in general, to delight to 
dwell on scenes which exhibit to their imagination the memo- 
rials of events nearly forgotten, or the transactions or customs of 
distant ages. Events of a more recent kind, or transactions 
which may be considered only in progress, do not arrest their 
attention, or at least fail to excite in their minds that deep inte- 
rest which remoter subjects readily awaken. The public like- 
wise feel and act much in the same manner. There is an im- 
portance attached to remote events, depending solely on their 
antiquity ; while there is a vulgarity inseparable from recent 
events, founded on the supposition of their being well known. 
Geologists have long acted, and we fear still act, in a similar 
manner to antiquaries. The study of the characters of the older 
strata (their position, structure, and ingredients), has been pur- 
sued with greater ardour than any researches which have been 
entered upon with the view of illustrating the connections of the 
newer deposits. Coal, sandstone and limestone, have been 
examined with zeal, while few have bestowed their attention on 
peat, sand, or marl. Similar practices have prevailed with re- 
gard to organic remains. Many have speculated concerning 
the structure and habits of those relics which occur in the solid 
strata, who have not deemed the study of the laws which regu- 
late the living races an object of much consequence. 
We are not disposed to refer these well known habits of the 
antiquary and the geologist to any natural preference of the ob- 
scure to the distinct, — of subjects, the nature of which may be 
illustrated with certainty, to those, the relations of which, cir- 
cumstances have rendered us incapable of determining. We 
are aware that antiquarian and geological speculations are usual- 
ly engaged in from motives of amusement, and, when conduct- 
ed in the usual manner, seldom fail to gratify their votaries. 
Were they to commence their investigations, with a knowledge 
of recent events, and proceed by degrees to those of remoter 
/ 
