GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 
207 
III., the later, or cainozoic, including all 
the tertiary formations up to the superfi¬ 
cial gravels, but exclusive of the latter; we 
have three distinct and separate platforms 
of life as evidenced by the fact that no spe¬ 
cies of plant belonging to the one is found in 
the other; each has separate fossils: there 
is no identity of species between them, and 
only a few identical genera. If we add 
to our consideration the recent beds and 
diluvial accumulations as a portion of the 
fourth or present period, this inference 
may also be extended so as to comprise the 
whole series of vegetable life. 
It may be objected that our researches 
have not been sufficiently extensive to 
warrant the formation of so large an induc¬ 
tion : but to this it may be replied that we 
have waited for several years the progress of 
discovery; much has been done to collect 
instances, and every fresh contribution of 
geological facts, harmonizes with the hypo¬ 
thesis long since proposed and now estab¬ 
lished,—that each of the great geological 
epochs, is characterised by the remains of 
distinct kinds of living creatures. 
