The sun., 1903-03-29


noe Of tropical plants and animals In the
extreme north At q time when the North
Pole was tropical In climate, DR.. Workman
brings the history OF the later distribution
of both over the Eastern and Western hemi-
spheres till he locates the progenitors OF
man In southern Europe and Asia.
II Is his theory that the oncoming OF
the glacial epoch gradually changed the
climate Of the Arctic Circle from tropical
to frigid. that tropical conditions slowly
southwark over both America
and Europe and Asia, carrying with them
tropical vegetation and animal life. until
the present wide distribution Of plants
and animals was attained. AZ this south
ward retreat continued. notifications OF
both the tropical vegetation and animal
life remained In the temperate latitudes,
giving rise TO the vast number of different
species Of both animals and plants that
inhabit the earth to-day.
In advancing this new theory DR.. Wort
man suggests some curious facts that have
been discovered regarding the remains
Of both fossil plants and animals In the
north Of America and Europe. He says
that in the same latitudes Of both CONT
nents the same fossil finds have been made.
showing that on each continent the re-
mains OF plants and animals Of a very
primitive sort must have come from some
ancestors common 70 each.
He also states that in unsarthing the
FOSSILS on both continents exactly the same
fact is found to be true, namely. that each
new era OF the appearance OF both FOSSIL
animals and plants seems 70 have oeen OF
sudden Introduction; that Is, similar
species are found in deposits OF the same
age in the same latitudes on both oonn-
nents. appearing suddenly. with no anoes-
tral remains preceding them IN the pre-.
vious deposits, proving that they could
not have arrived at the same time In the
same latitudes in such widely separated
localities except through immigration from
the NORTH where they had their common
origin.
These facts, which DR.. Workman says were
brought out by his own Wide experience
In fossil gathering, as well as by that OF
other paleontologists, are held to be IN
| conference.-the proof that the distribution
| of animal and plant remains In Fur ope
and America was due to waves OF migration
! from the north, as there was no possible
way i'm which plant and animal life .couh
have passed from one continent 10 the
/ other except at the early beginning OF tht
migration, and then only at the nortn
| where the only possible communicated
! between the continents was TO be had.
The monkeys, man 9 ancestors, DR.. wort
more says, shared in this general histor,
| of animal life with the other mammals
! They originated In the north, and by sue
ce,ssive migrations finally came to occupy
their present localities In the Asiatic AM
African continents and in South America
Curious proof OF this has been discovers
by DR.. Workman In working over the los
sill monkey remains In the Marsh colec
I ION at Yale. He has found, for inst lanes
that the aye-aye, curious primitive mon
key OF Madagascar. related by most scient
ists TO the rodent family. has direct oousir
IL not q nearer relative. anongthe monke
fossils OF North America.
An equally curious fact was uneanhe
last suu,mer by DR.. Workman during
expedition 10 the fossil-bearng peos
wyoming. Previous to that nnd the Mars
collection OF North American fossil mon
kevs. found also In Wyoming, had upwar
of 1900 fossil monkey specimens. b'
none Of them had complete den'nio'
making 1t impossible definitely to determiI
their relationship. ,.
In the Wyoming monkey find OF Ia
summer DR.. Wort man was lucky enoua
to unearth the first complete jaw OF on
, of these ancient Wyoming monkeys. III
import ance Of this was irnmedia' ely al
narcnt as from the teeth OF the specime
il wss possible for the first thne TO dedu'
the relation Of some Of these fossil speci'
TO the present South American monkeys
DIR. Workman states that the preset
South American monkeys cannot but
, considered now as the direct desccndan
, Of these Wyoming fossil species, IA
which brings at once TO the support of
migration theory a powerful argument.
The question asked by opponents OF u
evolution theory Of Charles Darwin a.
, vhv man did not originate on both col
, ,inents II he came from the ape at q
, | Dr Wortman answers In the journal
Science. He says that when the retire
, from the Arctic Circle began two ma
|. streams of plan, and aimai life came dov
. o,ar ,ho Fast ern and " Western hemisphere
. Tn America the monkeys never develop
fur her than the present South Americ'
= tyre. n small, long-tailed species. with
!, very low order OF intellect. On the Easte
, hsmispbere. however, there early beg
a \ the development Of the monkey specl
: up TO the present higher apes OF Ari
a and Asia. This, he states. In fact prov
a hy the fossil remains Of monkeys In be
y hemispheres. -,
. with the advance Of the cold epo
and the consequent retreat OF tropi'
T. plant and animal life southward, the pr
= ent South American monkeys retreat
y through the forest ranges OF Mexico IL
4. South America, where they are alone lou
;. now on this continent. In the East<
4 Hemisphere, however. . number 'of mt
esting things took place. some OF wh
u left the higher apes in their present 700
u ties. and others brought about the enfore
" evolution OF man.
4. II 10 this point that GILL receive the M
!. attention from evolutionists when
4 Wortman's papers are pubhshsd, Hithe
.vol,tioniets have contented themsel'
n ,t,h q simple statement Of the evidence
a. 20 the structural relationship Of man "
Al the apes, and with the general theory q
this evolution took place In some pres
Ia healed quarter OF the earth.
- Or. wortmsn contends In tho AMsrh
- yournsI of Science that this " insuncas
r., a. data of pale0ntology point