23 
with reference to the Dying Out of Species. 
same facts show in all the genera with more than ten species (Table VI), 
with from five to nine species (Table VII), and even in the genera with less 
than five, when taken together in groups (Table VIII). Always the 
maximum is at or near VR. In the same way the Ceylon-Indian and 
Wide species show parallel figures, family by family and genus by genus, 
but with maxima at Common (Table X). It is inconceivable that Natural 
Selection (a differentiating agent) should thus act with uniform pressure on 
every family and genus ; the only factor that to me seems satisfactory 
is age. 
The same argument is then put into biological dress, with slight 
alterations, and maps of Ceylon are given showing a number of Very Rare, 
Rare, and Rather Rare species. The VR areas are small dots scattered 
over the map, the R’s little rings, and the RR’s larger ones. But all are 
scattered, and the circles overlap like the rings in a shirt of chain mail. 
Now it is impossible to find conditions varying in such a way as to cause 
such distribution as this, and it is much simpler to look upon the area 
occupied as an indication of the age. 
A general discussion is then given, and it is shown that the advocates 
of Natural Selection do not satisfactorily explain such facts, but rather 
pass them over as incapable of explanation. Other objections to my views 
are also dealt with. 
The question of dying out of species is then considered, and it is 
shown that the figures of distribution of the Ceylon plants give no reason 
to suppose that any angiospermous species are dying out at the present 
time, a supposition which is borne out by a comparison of the floras of 
Ceylon, Java, and Rio de Janeiro. 
