New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-12-02

/ would no. 90 beyond these few remarks only
10 mention that even 10 the Paclhc thefe are SIM
lar laws Of distribution and animals Ia the northern
portion are identical with those on the Aslsilc aud
American sh0res-wbile 10 the temperate and trop'
zeal portion there is no analogy al ALL
Some marine groups Of animals are circumscribsd
In narrow limits though they are az liberty 10 swim
In all directions There is a group Of fishes com
mon in the Indian Ocean, very little known 10 this
mart Of the world and not represented either in
America. Europe or Africa, but confined about the
large islands between New Holland aud India Pro
per In this little group Of islands there is family
of fishes circumscribed and not extending into the
Pacific nor even all over the Indian Ocean.
This shows again how limited some types can be,
Notwithstanding the power they possess Of travel
ing about in all directions. Far from considering
this power OF locomoton a reason Cor the spreading
Of animals, think it is only cause for their keep
ing within definite boundaries Being at liberty to
change their location they will keep within the
most congenial boundaries, and not be scattered At
random. That the eggs Of fishes can be carried by
currents is true, but we do not find that this in
luence causes the fishes 10 be 30 difused but, on
the contrary, they remain within what appear 70 be
their original boundaries. In fact, we can come 70
other conclusion than that they have originated
where they exist.
We have another fact connected with this
which is highly interesting, and perhaps will
throw some additional light upon the origin Of
transcribed ia boundaries similar to those occupied
by natural groups Of animals. In other words the
different races Of men the natural boundaries
Of the definite associations in the Animal King
dom
But without going into details in this nvestiga
ton. / will proceed to elucidate the subject Of the
Order Of Succession Of Igpes an Geological eDochs.
IL was necessary 10 show that all animals ore
limited 10 certain natural boundaries, which up
pear TO have been their original location, in order
70 show the importance Of knowledge Of the char
acterstics of fossil animals III it was not the fact
that all fossil animals Of New Holland are ident
cal in type with those now living in the same To-
cality, and that the fossil types of South America
agree precisely in type, though not in species
with those now living in Brazil, would long since
have left the subject.
The subject Of the order of succession types in
geological epochs is one which has been consid-
cred by geologsts in a different point Of view from
that in which shall now consider it. Perhaps it
is proper for me 10 make few remarks upon
the value Of Investigations made under different
views.
Biologists have for a long time known that fos
sis in different strata are not the same. All the
species that have been found have for the most part
been fully described, figured aud well compared
with living animals. 1t has been shown that strata
OF different ages contain no Identical Species
Nevertheless all have now TO say has been men
toned in works In which these facts related
as medals by which they can ascertain the ages OF
geological strata. They have, in fact, been enabled
by these fossils to find out whether certain strata
OF rocks are older than others. What have found
on investigating the same subj has been, that
the order OF that succession corresponds precisely
with the graduation OF types Of animals when cias
sied according TO their structure biologists have
done an extensive work IN connection with anato
msts, in investigating the structure OF animals, and
from their external characters they have worked
out a classification more or less natural, and
methodical distribution OF them, forming a com
plete Geological system. These series of investl-
cations have been traced for half a century since
the first searches Of Cuvier, and his classification
according to structure.
Here, then, we have two series of independent
observations first, those OF geologsts ascertain
ing that in different successive strata there are os
sls OF different kinds and species which DO not oc
cur in other series Of strata above or below and
second, the classification derived from the structure
of animals.
What can add is this to show that these two
series OF phenomena cover each other that you
may read the order of succession with n certain IN
according TO succession i agrees precisely with the
classification made according to the structure OF
animals.
In order to make this evident, let me mention n
few geological facts The whole series OF strata
forming the crust of globe, not 70 include those
which contain no fossils, can be divided INTO SO
res of Law ars each OF which contains certain l0sss
The lowest strata for in z11ekzz345Ezkz<zsss<9
stance. the limestone, s. E9l1ekz1s5zsszs<k2&SA
extensive over the northeruI 1zkxlzz 3
and western parts OF thisI zzz1111Iz1f90ss215M
State, belong To tire Oldest - ~ ~
formation deposited during the existence OF animal