New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-21

mains Of which there was nothing Whatever except
the casts of the bones the solid material OF the bone
having been dissolved out by percolating water IL
was q chance in this case that the sandstone nap"
pened to be of such constitution as to SET ana 10
allow the bones to he afterward dissolved out.
Had that constitution been other than what 1t
was the bones would have besp dissolved, the beds
of sandstone would have fallen together, become
one mass and not the slightest indication that the
animal had existed would have been discovered.
know of no more striking evidence than this fact
affords from which it may be concluded, IN me ao-
sence of organic remains that such animals did ex-
ist. believe that having the right understanding
of the doctrine of evolution on the one hand, and
having Just estimation OF the Importance OF the
imperfection of the geological record on the other,
would remove all difficulty from the kind of evil
denee to which have thus adveTted, and this APP
probation allows us to believe that all such cases
arc examples of what / may here call, and have
hitherto designated negative or indifferent evidence
that to say, they in no way directly advance the
theory of evolution, but they are no obstacle III the
way of our belief in the doctrine.
Inow pass on TO the consideration of those cases
which are not-for the reason which will point out
to you by and by-dcmOnstrative OF the truth OF
evolution, but which are such as must exist IL eyo-
luton be true, and which therefore are upon the
whole strongly in favor of the doctrine: tne aoG
tine of evolution be true, it follows that ANIMALS
and plants, however diverse they may pc
however diverse the different groups OF AMI
of plants-must have all been connected together
by gTadatiOnal forms; so that, from the hghest
animals whatever they may be- down TO the
lowest speck of gelatnous matter IN when HE can
be manifested, there must be sure and progressive
hodv of eyidenCe-a series of gradatiOns by which
you could pass from one end OF the series TO ene
the doctrine of evolution. But when we look upo1
animated nature as it at present exists we Hn4
something totally different from this. we hnG that
animals and plants fall into groups, the dlheTeht
members of which are pretty closely allied together,
but which are separated by great DdeaAs
at intervals from other groups ana 1
cannot at present find any intermediate t9rins
which bridge over these gaps or intervals 10 nus
trate what mean Let me eau your tfaiar 70
you, such mammals and birds ana requires. ~
the present day these groups oil ahliH2s no 81
no animal now living which IN any sense As lh !I
mediate between the mammal ana the DIu,
or between the. the Uu actually auI some very distinct
and anatomical pecuiaTlties wen eelileI IL III
by which the mammal is separator iio IN oo 80
and the bird from the reptile Inc dsIlllctl1ns az
Snnarent and striking if you compare together the
different indications of these great groups. az tno
present day there are numerous a Ioretes of
ruTHjnants These latter have tlen aei-
mite characteristics, aud the former nave ineir
Distinguishing peculiaIites. But theIe ~ hoIiihs
thar comes between these runlnantS anu lhe Otier
tTibe-the pig tribe The two are distinct. 80 aiso
is this the case between the groups oI aotGr cis
the reptiles. We have crocodies, LIZARDS enahcs,
Turtles and tortoises, and yet there is hollhng-no
connecting lnk-between the crocodile ana lnaLu'
or between the lizard and SNAKE OF between uls
snake and the crocodile, or between any two OF
these groups. They are separated py aoSoLute
breaks. If then 1T could De SHOWN tnaSS
always existed-it would be fatal TO the doctrine
of evolution. If the intermediate gradaiops Wllch
the doctrine of evolution pOStulales must haNe en-
isted between these grOupS-if they are not 10 DE
fouud anywhere in the records OF the past history Oh
the glObe-all that is so much strong ahu Melsnlg
argnment against evolution. While, on the other
hand if such intermediate forms are TO DC iouhG
that is so much TO the good OF evolution altnougn
for the reason which l Will put before Son
nv and by we must Ice cautious III assuming slGh
facts as p oofs of the theory IL is very relafaDe
fact that from the first commencement OF Ihe seil
GUS study of paleontology, RON the ums ia iaCt
when CuYier made his brilliant researches III rtcp'Ct
10 animals found III the quaTTlcs OF MOhtlGadue-
from that time pae0ptOogy has shown "naU snS
was going TO do in tins matter, anu "haC hiiiu Vi
evidence IN Law in her power TO produce.
| said Just now that at the present day the group
of uiC-liSe animals and the group OF rumlnants are
entirely distinct; but one OF me nrst OF & @
plOtheTium, and which he showed 70 De, IA si'i1
MANY important respects, intermediate III ITS chalic
rnminants ON the other; that in fact research into
the history of the past did so far-and 70
the extent which Cuyier indIcated-tend
of Tuminants and the group OF pigs.
All subsequent research has also tended IN tins
direction and at the present Gay the llSesugau9is
OF such men as Ritemeyer and Gaudfy nave tehded
to fiji up and connect, more and more, the gaps III
our existing series of mammals. But thlnk IL may
have an especial interest l-nstead OF deaung WIN
tbese eases, which would require a great deal of
tedious astrological detail To eXplaI-ll takc the
case of birds and Tcptileswhch groups, at TINS pres
emf
that there are perhaps classes of animals winch
ian popuiar apprehension more completely sep
arated Buds, "a You are aware are covered WIN
feathers they are provided with wings llty are
sneciallv and peculiarly modified as to Their antc"
rior extrenities and they walk DeTpcndlcuialV
unnn two legs and those limbs, when they are con-
sjdered anatOmically, present great NUMBER
of exceedingly remarkable pecullaTlues, to Whch
NAV have occasion to advert incidentally as 60 on,
buf which are not met with even approximately III
te existing form of reptiles. On the other hand,
REPTILES IL they have covering at all, nave cover
iug of scales or bOny plates lhcy possess no wings;
they are not volatile and they have no such nodi-
fcafion of the limbs as we find in birds. Ii is inn
possible TO imagine any Two groups apphehtiS
more definitely and distinctly separated; AS
| we trace the history Of birds PACK IN
| time we find their remains abundant III ue
tertiary rocks throughout their whole extent, put
| so far "a ANYTHING is known, birds OF the tertiary
rocks though retaining the same essentla chaIaCtea
an fine birds Of the present day-that IS To say the
tertiary bird coming within the definition OF our eN-
istiup hirds-are much separated from requires as
Our existing birds are. few years ago DO IelaiuS
of birds had been found below the tertiary rocks,
and am not sure bue that some persons were pre-
pared to demonstrate that they cOuid not nave en-
isfed at AN earlier period But in the last lew years
| such remains have been discovered III England,
though unfortunately in very Imperfect cOhdtlon.
! In yonr country the development OF cTeJacOs rocks
! IL euor,nous and the conditions under Whlch the
! later cTetaceous strata have been deposited are
favorable for the preservation OF organic remains III
n perfect condition. and the researches ili OF iaD3r
and toil which have been carried on by Prof Marsh
| i'm these Western cretaceOus rocks nave IeWudeI
| him with the discovery OF forms OF pIoS ~, III
| which we had hitherto no conception. By
! his kindness, | am enabled to place
RA