That these links are not unique
is proved by numerous other examples known to science, such as those which
connect amphibia and reptiles, ancient reptiles and primitive mammals, as
well as those which come between the different orders of certain
vertebrate classes.
In summarizing the foregoing facts, and the larger bodies of evidence that
they exemplify, we learn how surely the testimony of the rocks establishes
evolution in its own way, how it confirms the law of recapitulation
demonstrated by comparative embryology, and how it proves that the greater
and smaller divisions of animals have followed the identical order in
their evolution that the comparative study of the present day animals has
independently described.
* * * * *
The facts of geographical distribution constitute the fifth division of
zooelogy, and an independent class of evidences proving the occurrence of
evolution. This department of zooelogy assumed its rightful status only
after the other divisions had attained considerable growth. Many
naturalists before Darwin and Wallace and Wagner had noticed that animals
and plants were by no means evenly distributed over the surface of the
globe, but until the doctrine of evolution cleared their vision they did
not see the meaning of these facts.
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