New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-26

oyster and coral knds-a fact which it will be wei
20 hear in mind hereafter 1t serves to show Also
still more stronply how widely fact and theory are
in this case, at variance.
y On the perfection Of Primordidl species.
There is no evidence that any of the Primordial
sneces were less perfect in structure than any Oh
the more modern existing representatives vi .ho
classes to which they belonged. by the perec',o"
Of an organism as understand 1t, we mean 'o
perfect adaptation of its structure, as "hoie "
the conditions amidst which it Is naturahy
6tted IN mass its life IT, in fifty men ont OF every
| hundred the eve naturally failed to take note OIL
| visual. and in the other fifty. the ear naturany
failed to respond to auditory impressions we shou
have / think good reason for pronouncinR man d
very imperfect creature. The question Oh the gr"do
of an ANIMAL among animals OF It's own cIa'S' 10
ouite another thing. Now the PrimordIal Braeh-
opods. Pterooods and Gasttropods often present us
verv neat and beautiful shell structures and these
indicate that the animals inhabiting them were in
all probability not less perfect and beautiful. vi
the lower ORDERS the plants and spOnges. little can
be said as they have, for the most part come down
TO us much the worse for their long entOmbment.
Among the Trilobtes, however, quaint and Old
fashioned IN cast though many Of them unquestlon-
ably are we occasionally encounter species sufl-
GENTLY remarkable on account of its general tnlsh
neatness of form and beauty of ornamentatlon, to
entite it 10 no small measure of respect from even
the present day representatives of its class. In
short, the life of the time appears to have been In
keeping with the time and affords no evidence Oh
having originated in any patchwork or haphazard
manner.
W. General observations and conclusions.
Ii will thus be seen that the life of the Primordia
Period holds an important place in the system OF
life of the world. Besides enabling us to reconstruct
with considerable certainty and completeness the
earth as il then appeared for the eyes OF the TITO
bite indicate that the was shining then rs now,
and the wide distribution of the fossils that the
seas then covered large portion of the present con-
tinental stes II is fruitful in lesson in many other
WAYS. and opens up to us new and important prob
lens for our solution almost continually. Precisely
how that life originated we may never knOU; but
the study of the older sediments having yet hardly
more than begun, important additions to our knowl-
edge may be expected TO be made in the future.
All that can be safely said at present is that the
facts which we now possess concerning it do not
favor the doctrine that il has arisen from more an
cient life by any process of evolution, but on the
contrary are Numerically opposed to such view.
The problem rises even higher, since its final sou-
ton would practically amount to solution or the
problem of the mode of origin of all forms of life
whatsoever.
No one, / venture to think who has made the
Trlobites Of the Primordal Zone subject of pro-
found study, has failed to be deeply impressed at
times with sense of the lavish fertility of concep-
ton displayed III their varied bodily architecture.
Indeed, it would seem though changes had some
times been rung upon a given pattern for the simple
purpose of pointing out the range of structural pos
siblities. Bat would earnestly invite the reader
TO seek out and learn of these old forms for himself
and in doing this he may, perchance, add to the
already existing fund of knowledge, while increas-
ing his own. He will also be likely to find in tins
Overwhelming field of study constant source of
profit and enjoyment, fountain that will never run
dry.