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Huxley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Geological Contemporaneity and Persistent Types of Life + +Author: Thomas H. Huxley + +Release Date: January 6, 2009 [EBook #2936] +Last Updated: January 22, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEOLOGICAL CONTEMPORANEITY *** + + + + +Produced by Amy E. Zelmer, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + GEOLOGICAL CONTEMPORANEITY AND PERSISTENT TYPES OF LIFE. + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Thomas H. Huxley + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#linknote-1" name="linknoteref-1" id="linknoteref-1"><small>1</small></a> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + MERCHANTS occasionally go through a wholesome, though troublesome and not + always satisfactory, process which they term "taking stock." After all the + excitement of speculation, the pleasure of gain, and the pain of loss, the + trader makes up his mind to face facts and to learn the exact quantity and + quality of his solid and reliable possessions. + </p> + <p> + The man of science does well sometimes to imitate this procedure; and, + forgetting for the time the importance of his own small winnings, to + re-examine the common stock in trade, so that he may make sure how far the + stock of bullion in the cellar—on the faith of whose existence so + much paper has been circulating—is really the solid gold of truth. + </p> + <p> + The Anniversary Meeting of the Geological Society seems to be an occasion + well suited for an undertaking of this kind—for an inquiry, in fact, + into the nature and value of the present results of paleontological + investigation; and the more so, as all those who have paid close attention + to the late multitudinous discussions in which paleontology is implicated, + must have felt the urgent necessity of some such scrutiny. + </p> + <p> + First in order, as the most definite and unquestionable of all the results + of paleontology, must be mentioned the immense extension and impulse given + to botany, zoology, and comparative anatomy, by the investigation of + fossil remains. Indeed, the mass of biological facts has been so greatly + increased, and the range of biological speculation has been so vastly + widened, by the researches of the geologist and paleontologist, that it is + to be feared there are naturalists in existence who look upon geology as + Brindley regarded rivers. "Rivers," said the great engineer, "were made to + feed canals"; and geology, some seem to think, was solely created to + advance comparative anatomy. + </p> + <p> + Were such a thought justifiable, it could hardly expect to be received + with favour by this assembly. But it is not justifiable. Your favourite + science has her own great aims independent of all others; and if, + notwithstanding her steady devotion to her own progress, she can scatter + such rich alms among her sisters, it should be remembered that her charity + is of the sort that does not impoverish, but "blesseth him that gives and + him that takes." + </p> + <p> + Regard the matter as we will, however, the facts remain. Nearly 40,000 + species of animals and plants have been added to the Systema Naturae by + paleontologic research. This is a living population equivalent to that of + a new continent in mere number; equivalent to that of a new hemisphere, if + we take into account the small population of insects as yet found fossil, + and the large proportion and peculiar organization of many of the + Vertebrata. + </p> + <p> + But, beyond this, it is perhaps not too much to say that, except for the + necessity of interpreting paleontologic facts, the laws of distribution + would have received less careful study; while few comparative anatomists + (and those not of the first order) would have been induced by mere love of + detail, as such, to study the minutiae of osteology, were it not that in + such minutiae lie the only keys to the most interesting riddles offered by + the extinct animal world. + </p> + <p> + These assuredly are great and solid gains. Surely it is matter for no + small congratulation that in half a century (for paleontology, though it + dawned earlier, came into full day only with Cuvier) a subordinate branch + of biology should have doubled the value and the interest of the whole + group of sciences to which it belongs. + </p> + <p> + But this is not all. Allied with geology, paleontology has established two + laws of inestimable importance: the first, that one and the same area of + the earth's surface has been successively occupied by very different kinds + of living beings; the second, that the order of succession established in + one locality holds good, approximately, in all. + </p> + <p> + The first of these laws is universal and irreversible; the second is an + induction from a vast number of observations, though it may possibly, and + even probably, have to admit of exceptions. As a consequence of the second + law, it follows that a peculiar relation frequently subsists between + series of strata, containing organic remains, in different localities. The + series resemble one another, not only in virtue of a general resemblance + of the organic remains in the two, but also in virtue of a resemblance in + the order and character of the serial succession in each. There is a + resemblance of arrangement; so that the separate terms of each series, as + well as the whole series, exhibit a correspondence. + </p> + <p> + Succession implies time; the lower members of a series of sedimentary + rocks are certainly older than the upper; and when the notion of age was + once introduced as the equivalent of succession, it was no wonder that + correspondence in succession came to be looked upon as a correspondence in + age, or "contemporaneity." And, indeed, so long as relative age only is + spoken of, correspondence in succession 'is' correspondence in age; it is + 'relative' contemporaneity. + </p> + <p> + But it would have been very much better for geology if so loose and + ambiguous a word as "contemporaneous" had been excluded from her + terminology, and if, in its stead, some term expressing similarity of + serial relation, and excluding the notion of time altogether, had been + employed to denote correspondence in position in two or more series of + strata. + </p> + <p> + In anatomy, where such correspondence of position has constantly to be + spoken of, it is denoted by the word "homology" and its derivatives; and + for Geology (which after all is only the anatomy and physiology of the + earth) it might be well to invent some single word, such as "homotaxis" + (similarity of order), in order to express an essentially similar idea. + This, however, has not been done, and most probably the inquiry will at + once be made—To what end burden science with a new and strange term + in place of one old, familiar, and part of our common language? + </p> + <p> + The reply to this question will become obvious as the inquiry into the + results of paleontology is pushed further. + </p> + <p> + Those whose business it is to acquaint themselves specially with the works + of paleontologists, in fact, will be fully aware that very few, if any, + would rest satisfied with such a statement of the conclusions of their + branch of biology as that which has just been given. + </p> + <p> + Our standard repertories of paleontology profess to teach us far higher + things—to disclose the entire succession of living forms upon the + surface of the globe; to tell us of a wholly different distribution of + climatic conditions in ancient times; to reveal the character of the first + of all living existences; and to trace out the law of progress from them + to us. + </p> + <p> + It may not be unprofitable to bestow on these professions a somewhat more + critical examination than they have hitherto received, in order to + ascertain how far they rest on an irrefragable basis; or whether, after + all, it might not be well for paleontologists to learn a little more + carefully that scientific "ars artium," the art of saying "I don't know." + And to this end let us define somewhat more exactly the extent of these + pretensions of paleontology. + </p> + <p> + Every one is aware that Professor Bronn's 'Untersuchungen' and Professor + Pictet's 'Traite de Paleontologie' are works of standard authority, + familiarly consulted by every working paleontologist. It is desirable to + speak of these excellent books, and of their distinguished authors, with + the utmost respect, and in a tone as far as possible removed from carping + criticism; indeed, if they are specially cited in this place, it is merely + in justification of the assertion that the following propositions, which + may be found implicitly, or explicitly, in the works in question, are + regarded by the mass of paleontologists and geologists, not only on the + Continent but in this country, as expressing some of the best-established + results of paleontology. Thus:— + </p> + <p> + Animals and plants began their existence together, not long after the + commencement of the deposition of the sedimentary rocks; and then + succeeded one another, in such a manner, that totally distinct faunae and + florae occupied the whole surface of the earth, one after the other, and + during distinct epochs of time. + </p> + <p> + A geological formation is the sum of all the strata deposited over the + whole surface of the earth during one of these epochs: a geological fauna + or flora is the sum of all the species of animals or plants which occupied + the whole surface of the globe, during one of these epochs. + </p> + <p> + The population of the earth's surface was at first very similar in all + parts, and only from the middle of the Tertiary epoch onwards, began to + show a distinct distribution in zones. + </p> + <p> + The constitution of the original population, as well as the numerical + proportions of its members, indicates a warmer and, on the whole, somewhat + tropical climate, which remained tolerably equable throughout the year. + The subsequent distribution of living beings in zones is the result of a + gradual lowering of the general temperature, which first began to be felt + at the poles. + </p> + <p> + It is not now proposed to inquire whether these doctrines are true or + false; but to direct your attention to a much simpler though very + essential preliminary question—What is their logical basis? what are + the fundamental assumptions upon which they all logically depend? and what + is the evidence on which those fundamental propositions demand our assent? + </p> + <p> + These assumptions are two: the first, that the commencement of the + geological record is coeval with the commencement of life on the globe; + the second, that geological contemporaneity is the same thing as + chronological synchrony. Without the first of these assumptions there + would of course be no ground for any statement respecting the commencement + of life; without the second, all the other statements cited, every one of + which implies a knowledge of the state of different parts of the earth at + one and the same time, will be no less devoid of demonstration. + </p> + <p> + The first assumption obviously rests entirely on negative evidence. This + is, of course, the only evidence that ever can be available to prove the + commencement of any series of phenomena; but, at the same time, it must be + recollected that the value of negative evidence depends entirely on the + amount of positive corroboration it receives. If A B wishes to prove an + 'alibi', it is of no use for him to get a thousand witnesses simply to + swear that they did not see him in such and such a place, unless the + witnesses are prepared to prove that they must have seen him had he been + there. But the evidence that animal life commenced with the Lingula-flags, + 'e.g.', would seem to be exactly of this unsatisfactory uncorroborated + sort. The Cambrian witnesses simply swear they "haven't seen anybody their + way"; upon which the counsel for the other side immediately puts in ten or + twelve thousand feet of Devonian sandstones to make oath they never saw a + fish or a mollusk, though all the world knows there were plenty in their + time. + </p> + <p> + But then it is urged that, though the Devonian rocks in one part of the + world exhibit no fossils, in another they do, while the lower Cambrian + rocks nowhere exhibit fossils, and hence no living being could have + existed in their epoch. + </p> + <p> + To this there are two replies: the first, that the observational basis of + the assertion that the lowest rocks are nowhere fossiliferous is an + amazingly small one, seeing how very small an area, in comparison to that + of the whole world, has yet been fully searched; the second, that the + argument is good for nothing unless the unfossiliferous rocks in question + were not only 'contemporaneous' in the geological sense, but 'synchronous' + in the chronological sense. To use the 'alibi' illustration again. If a + man wishes to prove he was in neither of two places, A and B, on a given + day, his witnesses for each place must be prepared to answer for the whole + day. If they can only prove that he was not at A in the morning, and not + at B in the afternoon, the evidence of his absence from both is 'nil', + because he might have been at B in the morning and at A in the afternoon. + </p> + <p> + Thus everything depends upon the validity of the second assumption. And we + must proceed to inquire what is the real meaning of the word + "contemporaneous" as employed by geologists. To this end a concrete + example may be taken. + </p> + <p> + The Lias of England and the Lias of Germany, the Cretaceous rocks of + Britain and the Cretaceous rocks of Southern India, are termed by + geologists "contemporaneous" formations; but whenever any thoughtful + geologist is asked whether he means to say that they were deposited + synchronously, he says, "No,—only within the same great epoch." And + if, in pursuing the inquiry, he is asked what may be the approximate value + in time of a "great epoch"—whether it means a hundred years, or a + thousand, or a million, or ten million years—his reply is, "I cannot + tell." + </p> + <p> + If the further question be put, whether physical geology is in possession + of any method by which the actual synchrony (or the reverse) of any two + distant deposits can be ascertained, no such method can be heard of; it + being admitted by all the best authorities that neither similarity of + mineral composition, nor of physical character, nor even direct continuity + of stratum, are 'absolute' proofs of the synchronism of even approximated + sedimentary strata: while, for distant deposits, there seems to be no kind + of physical evidence attainable of a nature competent to decide whether + such deposits were formed simultaneously, or whether they possess any + given difference of antiquity. To return to an example already given: All + competent authorities will probably assent to the proposition that + physical geology does not enable us in any way to reply to this question—Were + the British Cretaceous rocks deposited at the same time as those of India, + or are they a million of years younger or a million of years older? + </p> + <p> + Is paleontology able to succeed where physical geology fails? Standard + writers on paleontology, as has been seen, assume that she can. They take + it for granted, that deposits containing similar organic remains are + synchronous—at any rate in a broad sense; and yet, those who will + study the eleventh and twelfth chapters of Sir Henry De La Beche's + remarkable 'Researches in Theoretical Geology', published now nearly + thirty years ago, and will carry out the arguments there most luminously + stated, to their logical consequences, may very easily convince themselves + that even absolute identity of organic contents is no proof of the + synchrony of deposits, while absolute diversity is no proof of difference + of date. Sir Henry De La Beche goes even further, and adduces conclusive + evidence to show that the different parts of one and the same stratum, + having a similar composition throughout, containing the same organic + remains, and having similar beds above and below it, may yet differ to any + conceivable extent in age. + </p> + <p> + Edward Forbes was in the habit of asserting that the similarity of the + organic contents of distant formations was 'prima facie' evidence, not of + their similarity, but of their difference of age; and holding as he did + the doctrine of single specific centres, the conclusion was as legitimate + as any other; for the two districts must have been occupied by migration + from one of the two, or from an intermediate spot, and the chances against + exact coincidence of migration and of imbedding are infinite. + </p> + <p> + In point of fact, however, whether the hypothesis of single or of multiple + specific centres be adopted, similarity of organic contents cannot + possibly afford any proof of the synchrony of the deposits which contain + them; on the contrary, it is demonstrably compatible with the lapse of the + most prodigious intervals of time, and with the interposition of vast + changes in the organic and inorganic worlds, between the epochs in which + such deposits were formed. + </p> + <p> + On what amount of similarity of their faunae is the doctrine of the + contemporaneity of the European and of the North American Silurians based? + In the last edition of Sir Charles Lyell's 'Elementary Geology' it is + stated, on the authority of a former President of this Society, the late + Daniel Sharpe, that between 30 and 40 per cent. of the species of Silurian + Mollusca are common to both sides of the Atlantic. By way of due allowance + for further discovery, let us double the lesser number and suppose that 60 + per cent. of the species are common to the North American and the British + Silurians. Sixty per cent. of species in common is, then, proof of + contemporaneity. + </p> + <p> + Now suppose that, a million or two of years hence, when Britain has made + another dip beneath the sea and has come up again, some geologist applies + this doctrine, in comparing the strata laid bare by the upheaval of the + bottom, say, of St. George's Channel with what may then remain of the + Suffolk Crag. Reasoning in the same way, he will at once decide the + Suffolk Crag and the St. George's Channel beds to be contemporaneous; + although we happen to know that a vast period (even in the geological + sense) of time, and physical changes of almost unprecedented extent, + separate the two. + </p> + <p> + But if it be a demonstrable fact that strata containing more than 60 or 70 + per cent. of species of Mollusca in common, and comparatively close + together, may yet be separated by an amount of geological time sufficient + to allow of some of the greatest physical changes the world has seen, what + becomes of that sort of contemporaneity the sole evidence of which is a + similarity of facies, or the identity of half a dozen species, or of a + good many genera? + </p> + <p> + And yet there is no better evidence for the contemporaneity assumed by all + who adopt the hypothesis of universal faunae and florae, of a universally + uniform climate, and of a sensible cooling of the globe during geological + time. + </p> + <p> + There seems, then, no escape from the admission that neither physical + geology, nor paleontology, possesses any method by which the absolute + synchronism of two strata can be demonstrated. All that geology can prove + is local order of succession. It is mathematically certain that, in any + given vertical linear section of an undisturbed series of sedimentary + deposits, the bed which lies lowest is the oldest. In many other vertical + linear sections of the same series, of course, corresponding beds will + occur in a similar order; but, however great may be the probability, no + man can say with absolute certainty that the beds in the two sections were + synchronously deposited. For areas of moderate extent, it is doubtless + true that no practical evil is likely to result from assuming the + corresponding beds to be synchronous or strictly contemporaneous; and + there are multitudes of accessory circumstances which may fully justify + the assumption of such synchrony. But the moment the geologist has to deal + with large areas, or with completely separated deposits, the mischief of + confounding that "homotaxis" or "similarity of arrangement," which 'can' + be demonstrated, with "synchrony" or "identity of date," for which there + is not a shadow of proof, under the one common term of "contemporaneity" + becomes incalculable, and proves the constant source of gratuitous + speculations. + </p> + <p> + For anything that geology or paleontology are able to show to the + contrary, a Devonian fauna and flora in the British Islands may have been + contemporaneous with Silurian life in North America, and with a + Carboniferous fauna and flora in Africa. Geographical provinces and zones + may have been as distinctly marked in the Paleozoic epoch as at present, + and those seemingly sudden appearances of new genera and species, which we + ascribe to new creation, may be simple results of migration. + </p> + <p> + It may be so; it may be otherwise. In the present condition of our + knowledge and of our methods, one verdict—"not proven, and not + provable"—must be recorded against all the grand hypotheses of the + paleontologist respecting the general succession of life on the globe. The + order and nature of terrestrial life, as a whole, are open questions. + Geology at present provides us with most valuable topographical records, + but she has not the means of working them into a universal history. Is + such a universal history, then, to be regarded as unattainable? Are all + the grandest and most interesting problems which offer themselves to the + geological student essentially insoluble? Is he in the position of a + scientific Tantalus—doomed always to thirst for a knowledge which he + cannot obtain? The reverse is to be hoped; nay, it may not be impossible + to indicate the source whence help will come. + </p> + <p> + In commencing these remarks, mention was made of the great obligations + under which the naturalist lies to the geologist and paleontologist. + Assuredly the time will come when these obligations will be repaid + tenfold, and when the maze of the world's past history, through which the + pure geologist and the pure paleontologist find no guidance, will be + securely threaded by the clue furnished by the naturalist. + </p> + <p> + All who are competent to express an opinion on the subject are, at + present, agreed that the manifold varieties of animal and vegetable form + have not either come into existence by chance, nor result from capricious + exertions of creative power; but that they have taken place in a definite + order, the statement of which order is what men of science term a natural + law. Whether such a law is to be regarded as an expression of the mode of + operation of natural forces, or whether it is simply a statement of the + manner in which a supernatural power has thought fit to act, is a + secondary question, so long as the existence of the law and the + possibility of its discovery by the human intellect are granted. But he + must be a half-hearted philosopher who, believing in that possibility, and + having watched the gigantic strides of the biological sciences during the + last twenty years, doubts that science will sooner or later make this + further step, so as to become possessed of the law of evolution of organic + forms—of the unvarying order of that great chain of causes and + effects of which all organic forms, ancient and modern, are the links. And + then, if ever, we shall be able to begin to discuss, with profit, the + questions respecting the commencement of life, and the nature of the + successive populations of the globe, which so many seem to think are + already answered. + </p> + <p> + The preceding arguments make no particular claim to novelty; indeed they + have been floating more or less distinctly before the minds of geologists + for the last thirty years; and if, at the present time, it has seemed + desirable to give them more definite and systematic expression, it is + because paleontology is every day assuming a greater importance, and now + requires to rest on a basis the firmness of which is thoroughly well + assured. Among its fundamental conceptions, there must be no confusion + between what is certain and what is more or less probable. <a + href="#linknote-2" name="linknoteref-2" id="linknoteref-2"><small>2</small></a> + But, pending the construction of a surer foundation than paleontology now + possesses, it may be instructive, assuming for the nonce the general + correctness of the ordinary hypothesis of geological contemporaneity, to + consider whether the deductions which are ordinarily drawn from the whole + body of paleontologic facts are justifiable. + </p> + <p> + The evidence on which such conclusions are based is of two kinds, negative + and positive. The value of negative evidence, in connection with this + inquiry, has been so fully and clearly discussed in an address from the + chair of this Society <a href="#linknote-3" name="linknoteref-3" + id="linknoteref-3"><small>3</small></a>, which none of us have forgotten, + that nothing need at present be said about it; the more, as the + considerations which have been laid before you have certainly not tended + to increase your estimation of such evidence. It will be preferable to + turn to the positive facts of paleontology, and to inquire what they tell + us. + </p> + <p> + We are all accustomed to speak of the number and the extent of the changes + in the living population of the globe during geological time as something + enormous: and indeed they are so, if we regard only the negative + differences which separate the older rocks from the more modern, and if we + look upon specific and generic changes as great changes, which from one + point of view, they truly are. But leaving the negative differences out of + consideration, and looking only at the positive data furnished by the + fossil world from a broader point of view—from that of the + comparative anatomist who has made the study of the greater modifications + of animal form his chief business—a surprise of another kind dawns + upon the mind; and under 'this' aspect the smallness of the total change + becomes as astonishing as was its greatness under the other. + </p> + <p> + There are two hundred known orders of plants; of these not one is + certainly known to exist exclusively in the fossil state. The whole lapse + of geological time has as yet yielded not a single new ordinal type of + vegetable structure. <a href="#linknote-4" name="linknoteref-4" + id="linknoteref-4"><small>4</small></a> + </p> + <p> + The positive change in passing from the recent to the ancient animal world + is greater, but still singularly small. No fossil animal is so distinct + from those now living as to require to be arranged even in a separate + class from those which contain existing forms. It is only when we come to + the orders, which may be roughly estimated at about a hundred and thirty, + that we meet with fossil animals so distinct from those now living as to + require orders for themselves; and these do not amount, on the most + liberal estimate, to more than about 10 per cent. of the whole. + </p> + <p> + There is no certainly known extinct order of Protozoa; there is but one + among the Coelenterata—that of the rugose corals; there is none + among the Mollusca; there are three, the Cystidea, Blastoidea, and + Edrioasterida, among the Echinoderms; and two, the Trilobita and + Eurypterida, among the Crustacea; making altogether five for the great + sub-kingdom of Annulosa. Among Vertebrates there is no ordinally distinct + fossil fish: there is only one extinct order of Amphibia—the + Labyrinthodonts; but there are at least four distinct orders of Reptilia, + viz. the Ichthyosauria, Plesiosauria, Pterosauria, Dinosauria, and perhaps + another or two. There is no known extinct order of Birds, and no certainly + known extinct order of Mammals, the ordinal distinctness of the + "Toxodontia" being doubtful. + </p> + <p> + The objection that broad statements of this kind, after all, rest largely + on negative evidence is obvious, but it has less force than may at first + be supposed; for, as might be expected from the circumstances of the case, + we possess more abundant positive evidence regarding Fishes and marine + Mollusks than respecting any other forms of animal life; and yet these + offer us, through the whole range of geological time, no species ordinally + distinct from those now living; while the far less numerous class of + Echinoderms presents three; and the Crustacea two, such orders, though + none of these come down later than the Paleozoic age. Lastly, the Reptilia + present the extraordinary and exceptional phenomenon of as many extinct as + existing orders, if not more; the four mentioned maintaining their + existence from the Lias to the Chalk inclusive. + </p> + <p> + Some years ago one of your Secretaries pointed out another kind of + positive paleontologic evidence tending towards the same conclusion—afforded + by the existence of what he termed "persistent types" of vegetable and of + animal life. <a href="#linknote-5" name="linknoteref-5" id="linknoteref-5"><small>5</small></a> + He stated, on the authority of Dr. Hooker, that there are Carboniferous + plants which appear to be generically identical with some now living; that + the cone of the Oolitic 'Araucaria' is hardly distinguishable from that of + an existing species; that a true 'Pinus' appears in the Purbecks, and a + 'Juglans' in the Chalk; while, from the Bagshot Sands, a 'Banksia', the + wood of which is not distinguishable from that of species now living in + Australia, had been obtained. + </p> + <p> + Turning to the animal kingdom, he affirmed the tabulate corals of the + Silurian rocks to be wonderfully like those which now exist; while even + the families of the Aporosa were all represented in the older Mesozoic + rocks. + </p> + <p> + Among the Molluska similar facts were adduced. Let it be borne in mind + that 'Avicula', 'Mytails', 'Chiton', 'Natica', 'Patella', 'Trochus', + 'Discina', 'Orbicula', 'Lingula', 'Rhynchonella', and 'Nautilus', all of + which are existing 'genera', are given without a doubt as Silurian in the + last edition of 'Siluria'; while the highest forms of the highest + Cephalopods are represented in the Lias by a genus, 'Belemnoteuthis', + which presents the closest relation to the existing 'Loligo'. + </p> + <p> + The two highest groups of the Annulosa, the Insecta and the Arachnida, are + represented in the Coal, either by existing genera, or by forms differing + from existing genera in quite minor peculiarities. + </p> + <p> + Turning to the Vertebrata, the only Paleozoic Elasmobranch Fish of which + we have any complete knowledge is the Devonian and Carboniferous + 'Pleuracanthus', which differs no more from existing Sharks than these do + from one another. + </p> + <p> + Again, vast as is the number of undoubtedly Ganoid fossil Fishes, and + great as is their range in time, a large mass of evidence has recently + been adduced to show that almost all those respecting which we possess + sufficient information, are referable to the same sub-ordinal groups as + the existing 'Lepidosteus', 'Polypterus', and Sturgeon; and that a + singular relation obtains between the older and the younger Fishes; the + former, the Devonian Ganoids, being almost all members of the same + sub-order as 'Polypterus', while the Mesozoic Ganoids are almost all + similarly allied to 'Lepidosteus'. <a href="#linknote-6" + name="linknoteref-6" id="linknoteref-6"><small>6</small></a> + </p> + <p> + Again, what can be more remarkable than the singular constancy of + structure preserved throughout a vast period of time by the family of the + Pycnodonts and by that of the true Coelacanths; the former persisting, + with but insignificant modifications, from the Carboniferous to the + Tertiary rocks, inclusive; the latter existing, with still less change, + from the Carboniferous rocks to the Chalk, inclusive? + </p> + <p> + Among Reptiles, the highest living group, that of the Crocodilia, is + represented, at the early part of the Mesozoic epoch, by species identical + in the essential characters of their organization with those now living, + and differing from the latter only in such matters as the form of the + articular facets of the vertebral centra, in the extent to which the nasal + passages are separated from the cavity of the mouth by bone, and in the + proportions of the limbs. + </p> + <p> + And even as regards the Mammalia, the scanty remains of Triassic and + Oolitic species afford no foundation for the supposition that the + organization of the oldest forms differed nearly so much from some of + those which now live as these differ from one another. + </p> + <p> + It is needless to multiply these instances; enough has been said to + justify the statement that, in view of the immense diversity of known + animal and vegetable forms, and the enormous lapse of time indicated by + the accumulation of fossiliferous strata, the only circumstance to be + wondered at is, not that the changes of life, as exhibited by positive + evidence, have been so great, but that they have been so small. + </p> + <p> + Be they great or small, however, it is desirable to attempt to estimate + them. Let us, therefore, take each great division of the animal world in + succession, and, whenever an order or a family can be shown to have had a + prolonged existence, let us endeavour to ascertain how far the later + members of the group differ from the earlier ones. If these later members, + in all or in many cases, exhibit a certain amount of modification, the + fact is, so far, evidence in favour of a general law of change; and, in a + rough way, the rapidity of that change will be measured by the + demonstrable amount of modification. On the other hand, it must be + recollected that the absence of any modification, while it may leave the + doctrine of the existence of a law of change without positive support, + cannot possibly disprove all forms of that doctrine, though it may afford + a sufficient refutation of any of them. + </p> + <p> + The PROTOZOA.—The Protozoa are represented throughout the whole + range of geological series, from the Lower Silurian formation to the + present day. The most ancient forms recently made known by Ehrenberg are + exceedingly like those which now exist: no one has ever pretended that the + difference between any ancient and any modern Foraminifera is of more than + generic value, nor are the oldest Foraminifera either simpler, more + embryonic, or less differentiated, than the existing forms. + </p> + <p> + The COELENTERATA.—The Tabulate Corals have existed from the Silurian + epoch to the present day, but I am not aware that the ancient 'Heliolites' + possesses a single mark of a more embryonic or less differentiated + character, or less high organization, than the existing 'Heliopora'. As + for the Aporose Corals, in what respect is the Silurian 'Paleocyclus' less + highly organized or more embryonic than the modern 'Fungia', or the + Liassic Aporosa than the existing members of the same families? + </p> + <p> + The 'Mollusca'.—In what sense is the living 'Waldheimia' less + embryonic, or more specialized; than the paleozoic 'Spirifer'; or the + existing 'Rhynchonellae', 'Craniae', 'Discinae', 'Lingulae', than the + Silurian species of the same genera? In what sense can 'Loligo' or + 'Spirula' be said to be more specialized, or less embryonic, than + 'Belemnites'; or the modern species of Lamellibranch and Gasteropod + genera, than the Silurian species of the same genera? + </p> + <p> + The ANNULOSA.—The Carboniferous Insecta and Arachnida are neither + less specialized, nor more embryonic, than these that now live, nor are + the Liassic Cirripedia and Macrura; while several of the Brachyura, which + appear in the Chalk, belong to existing genera; and none exhibit either an + intermediate, or an embryonic, character. + </p> + <p> + The VERTEBRARA.—Among fishes I have referred to the Coelacanthini + (comprising the genera 'Coelacanthus', 'Holophagus', 'Undina', and + 'Macropoma') as affording an example of a persistent type; and it is most + remarkable to note the smallness of the differences between any of these + fishes (affecting at most the proportions of the body and fins, and the + character and sculpture of the scales), notwithstanding their enormous + range in time. In all the essentials of its very peculiar structure, the + 'Macropoma' of the Chalk is identical with the 'Coelacanthus' of the Coal. + Look at the genus 'Lepidotus', again, persisting without a modification of + importance from the Liassic to the Eocene formations inclusive. + </p> + <p> + Or among the Teleostei—in what respect is the 'Beryx' of the Chalk + more embryonic, or less differentiated, than 'Beryx lineatus' of King + George's Sound? + </p> + <p> + Or to turn to the higher Vertebrata—in what sense are the Liassic + Chelonia inferior to those which now exist? How are the Cretaceous + Ichthyosauria, Plesiosauria, or Pterosauria less embryonic, or more + differentiated, species than those of the Lias? + </p> + <p> + Or lastly, in what circumstance is the 'Phascolotherium' more embryonic, + or of a more generalized type, than the modern Opossum; or a 'Lophiodon', + or a 'Paleotherium', than a modern 'Tapirus' or 'Hyrax'? + </p> + <p> + These examples might be almost indefinitely multiplied, but surely they + are sufficient to prove that the only safe and unquestionable testimony we + can procure—positive evidence—fails to demonstrate any sort of + progressive modification towards a less embryonic, or less generalised, + type in a great many groups of animals of long-continued geological + existence. In these groups there is abundant evidence of variation—none + of what is ordinarily understood as progression; and, if the known + geological record is to be regarded as even any considerable fragment of + the whole, it is inconceivable that any theory of a necessarily + progressive development can stand, for the numerous orders and families + cited afford no trace of such a process. + </p> + <p> + But it is a most remarkable fact, that, while the groups which have been + mentioned, and many besides, exhibit no sign of progressive modification, + there are others, co-existing with them, under the same conditions, in + which more or less distinct indications of such a process seems to be + traceable. Among such indications I may remind you of the predominance of + Holostome Gasteropoda in the older rocks as compared with that of + Siphonostome Gasteropoda in the later. A case less open to the objection + of negative evidence, however, is that afforded by the Tetrabranchiate + Cephalopoda, the forms of the shells and of the septal sutures exhibiting + a certain increase of complexity in the newer genera. Here, however, one + is met at once with the occurrence of 'Orthoceras' and 'Baculites' at the + two ends of the series, and of the fact that one of the simplest Genera, + 'Nautilus', is that which now exists. + </p> + <p> + The Crinoidea, in the abundance of stalked forms in the ancient formations + as compared with their present rarity, seem to present us with a fair case + of modification from a more embryonic towards a less embryonic condition. + But then, on careful consideration of the facts, the objection arises that + the stalk, calyx, and arms of the paleozoic Crinoid are exceedingly + different from the corresponding organs of a larval 'Comatula'; and it + might with perfect justice be argued that 'Actinocrinus' and + 'Eucalyptocrinus', for example, depart to the full as widely, in one + direction, from the stalked embryo of 'Comatula', as 'Comatula' itself + does in the other. + </p> + <p> + The Echinidea, again, are frequently quoted as exhibiting a gradual + passage from a more generalized to a more specialized type, seeing that + the elongated, or oval, Spatangoids appear after the spheroidal Echinoids. + But here it might be argued, on the other hand, that the spheroidal + Echinoids, in reality, depart further from the general plan and from the + embryonic form than the elongated Spatangoids do; and that the peculiar + dental apparatus and the pedicellariae of the former are marks of at least + as great differentiation as the petaloid ambulacra and semitae of the + latter. + </p> + <p> + Once more, the prevalence of Macrurous before Brachyurous Podophthalmia + is, apparently, a fair piece of evidence in favour of progressive + modification in the same order of Crustacea; and yet the case will not + stand much sifting, seeing that the Macrurous Podophthalmia depart as far + in one direction from the common type of Podophthalmia, or from any + embryonic condition of the Brachyura, as the Brachyura do in the other; + and that the middle terms between Macrura and Brachyura—the Anomura—are + little better represented in the older Mesozoic rocks than the Brachyura + are. + </p> + <p> + None of the cases of progressive modification which are cited from among + the Invertebrata appear to me to have a foundation less open to criticism + than these; and if this be so, no careful reasoner would, I think, be + inclined to lay very great stress upon them. Among the Vertebrata, + however, there are a few examples which appear to be far less open to + objection. + </p> + <p> + It is, in fact, true of several groups of Vertebrata which have lived + through a considerable range of time, that the endoskeleton (more + particularly the spinal column) of the older genera presents a less + ossified, and, so far, less differentiated, condition than that of the + younger genera. Thus the Devonian Ganoids, though almost all members of + the same sub-order as 'Polypterus', and presenting numerous important + resemblances to the existing genus, which possesses biconcave vertebrae, + are, for the most part, wholly devoid of ossified vertebral centra. The + Mesozoic Lepidosteidae, again, have, at most, biconcave vertebrae, while + the existing 'Lepidosteus' has Salamandroid, opisthocoelous, vertebrae. + So, none of the Paleozoic Sharks have shown themselves to be possessed of + ossified vertebrae, while the majority of modern Sharks possess such + vertebrae. Again, the more ancient Crocodilia and Lacertilia have + vertebrae with the articular facets of their centra flattened or + biconcave, while the modern members of the same group have them + procoelous. But the most remarkable examples of progressive modification + of the vertebral column, in correspondence with geological age, are those + afforded by the Pycnodonts among fish, and the Labyrinthodonts among + Amphibia. + </p> + <p> + The late able ichthyologist Heckel pointed out the fact, that, while the + Pycnodonts never possess true vertebral centra, they differ in the degree + of expansion and extension of the ends of the bony arches of the vertebrae + upon the sheath of the notochord; the Carboniferous forms exhibiting + hardly any such expansion, while the Mesozoic genera present a greater and + greater development, until, in the Tertiary forms, the expanded ends + become suturally united so as to form a sort of false vertebra. Hermann + von Meyer, again, to whose luminous researches we are indebted for our + present large knowledge of the organization of the older Labyrinthodonts, + has proved that the Carboniferous 'Archegosaurus' had very imperfectly + developed vertebral centra, while the Triassic 'Mastodonsaurus' had the + same parts completely ossified. <a href="#linknote-7" name="linknoteref-7" + id="linknoteref-7"><small>7</small></a> + </p> + <p> + The regularity and evenness of the dentition of the 'Anoplotherium', as + contrasted with that of existing Artiodactyles, and the assumed nearer + approach of the dentition of certain ancient Carnivores to the typical + arrangement, have also been cited as exemplifications of a law of + progressive development, but I know of no other cases based on positive + evidence which are worthy of particular notice. + </p> + <p> + What, then, does an impartial survey of the positively ascertained truths + of paleontology testify in relation to the common doctrines of progressive + modification, which suppose that modification to have taken place by a + necessary progress from more to less embryonic forms, or from more to less + generalized types, within the limits of the period represented by the + fossiliferous rocks? + </p> + <p> + It negatives those doctrines; for it either shows us no evidence of any + such modification, or demonstrates it to have been very slight; and as to + the nature of that modification, it yields no evidence whatsoever that the + earlier members of any long-continued group were more generalized in + structure than the later ones. To a certain extent, indeed, it may be said + that imperfect ossification of the vertebral column is an embryonic + character; but, on the other hand, it would be extremely incorrect to + suppose that the vertebral columns of the older Vertebrata are in any + sense embryonic in their whole structure. + </p> + <p> + Obviously, if the earliest fossiliferous rocks now known are coeval with + the commencement of life, and if their contents give us any just + conception of the nature and the extent of the earliest fauna and flora, + the insignificant amount of modification which can be demonstrated to have + taken place in any one group of animals, or plants, is quite incompatible + with the hypothesis that all living forms are the results of a necessary + process of progressive development, entirely comprised within the time + represented by the fossiliferous rocks. + </p> + <p> + Contrariwise, any admissible hypothesis of progressive modification must + be compatible with persistence without progression, through indefinite + periods. And should such an hypothesis eventually be proved to be true, in + the only way in which it can be demonstrated, viz. by observation and + experiment upon the existing forms of life, the conclusion will inevitably + present itself, that the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cainozoic faunae and + florae, taken together, bear somewhat the same proportion to the whole + series of living beings which have occupied this globe, as the existing + fauna and flora do to them. + </p> + <p> + Such are the results of paleontology as they appear, and have for some + years appeared, to the mind of an inquirer who regards that study simply + as one of the applications of the great biological sciences, and who + desires to see it placed upon the same sound basis as other branches of + physical inquiry. If the arguments which have been brought forward are + valid, probably no one, in view of the present state of opinion, will be + inclined to think the time wasted which has been spent upon their + elaboration. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-1" id="linknote-1"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 1 (<a href="#linknoteref-1">return</a>)<br /> [ The Anniversary Address to + the Geological Society for 1862.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-2" id="linknote-2"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 2 (<a href="#linknoteref-2">return</a>)<br /> [ "le plus grand service + qu'on puisse rendre a la science est d'y faire place nette avant d'y rien + construire."—CUVIER] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-3" id="linknote-3"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 3 (<a href="#linknoteref-3">return</a>)<br /> [ Anniversary Address for + 1851, 'Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc.' vol. vii.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-4" id="linknote-4"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 4 (<a href="#linknoteref-4">return</a>)<br /> [ See Hooker's 'Introductory + Essay to the Flora of Tasmania', p. xxiii.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-5" id="linknote-5"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 5 (<a href="#linknoteref-5">return</a>)<br /> [ See the abstract of a + Lecture "On the Persistent Types of Animal Life," in the 'Notices of the + Meetings of the Royal Institution of Great Britain'.—June 3, 1859, + vol. iii. p. 151. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-6" id="linknote-6"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 6 (<a href="#linknoteref-6">return</a>)<br /> [ "Memoirs of the Geological + Survey of the United Kingdom.—Decade x. Preliminary Essay upon the + Systematic Arrangement of the Fishes of the Devonian Epoch."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-7" id="linknote-7"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 7 (<a href="#linknoteref-7">return</a>)<br /> [ As the Address is passing + through the press (March 7, 1862), evidence lies before me of the + existence of a new Labyrinthodont ('Pholidogaster'), from the Edinburgh + coal-field, with well-ossified vertebral centra.] + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Geological Contemporaneity and +Persistent Types of Life, by Thomas H. Huxley + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEOLOGICAL CONTEMPORANEITY *** + +***** This file should be named 2936-h.htm or 2936-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/3/2936/ + +Produced by Amy E. 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