The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-07

the Independent development of similar
structures in different groups Of ami
mails living under similar circumstances
or in course Of adaptation to similar
conditions of life. Mimicry, too, is
another important factor in nature, the
discovery and recognition of which has
taken place during the queens reign.
The cutting of thin sections of animal
and vegetable tissues and their exam
ination under the microscope and the
wonderful results that have been OBJ
tained thereby, are also a devolment
of the reign as is likewise microscopy
in general. Bacteria and microbes.
again, are low types Of life whose in
Nestigation forms one of the greatest
achievements of the latter part of the
era, and the incalculable benefits which
have already been conferred upon suf-
fering humanity by this line Of study
are well known.
The reign Of Queen Victoria will be
notable in future generations for scien-
tific discovery and progress, and
among the sciences that have advanced
by leaps and bounds during this length
ened period biology must surely oc-
cupy one of the most prominent posi-
lions. Indeed, it is almost impossible
for workers at the present day to real
tze how imperfect Vas our knowledge.
and how comparatively few were our
books on biological subjects in
the year of grace 1897. To give
any adequate idea of the amount
OF progress that has been made
in even one branch Of this science
during the reign, would be manifestly
impossible in an article Of the present
length. and it is hence matter of ex-
treme difficulty to select points for spe-
cial mention.
OF Owens works, the greater portion
, has appeared during the reign. al
though his memoir on the mammary
glands Of the duckbill bears the date
1872 This serves to remind us thar
the history of the monotreme mammals
has been practically worked out DURING
the same period, the discovery that
these animals lay eggs not having been
announced till the year 1884. Although.
owing to his persistent opposition !
the doctrine Of evolution, his theories
of the relationship of animals have not
met with acceptation, it is difficult To
estimate the debt which zoology an1
paleontology owe to Owen for his work
during the reign.
To him is due the honor of making
known to the world the former exist
ence of the gigantic extinct moas Obi
nornithidae) Of New Zealand, and also
of the wonderful extinct marsupial
fauna Of Australia while he was the
pioneer in the elucidation of the equal
ily marvellous fossil mammals in South
America. Had these fauna not been
discovered and worked out, we should
never have gained our present ideas
of the geographical distribution of ami
mails. To the same master of anatomy
is due the description Of the long-tailed
Jurassic bird (Archaeopteryx) in 1862
ehe fossil being one of the most remark
able missing links" ever discovered
too late, unfortunately, for Darwin
"Origin Of Species" Although many
of his views are now proved to be erro.
neousa Owen also did much fer the ex.
tinct Mesozoic reptiles, which he wei
cbristened Dinosaurs, and his labors
! laid the foundation for almost all sub.
ii sequent work on fossil reptiles in gen
r eral.
The mention Of Dinosaurs natural,
n leads on to Huxley, who, although BY
no means essentially paleontoIogist