Palæontology

Abstract

THE palæontologist has been defined as a variety of naturalist who poses among geologists as one learned in zoology, and among zoologists as one learned in geology, whilst in reality his skill in both sciences is diminutive. The division of zoology into palæontology and neontology is one which is, no doubt, logically defensible, and so would be a division of the subject-matter of zoology into as many branches as there are periods recognized by geologists—cambriontologists, siluriontologists, anthrakontologists, &c. On the other hand, it must be admitted that such divisions seem unlikely to tend to the furtherance of our knowledge of animal life in the past. The fragmentary remains of extinct animals can only be interpreted by the application to them of a very thorough knowledge of the form and structure of living animals, and accordingly it would seem desirable that, as is more usually the case in regard to the study of plant remains than in regard to that of animal remains, the study of palæontology should be relegated to those who also occupy themselves with neontology. The botanists, with few exceptions, pursue this plan; but curiously enough, a special class of palaeontological zoologists exists and flourishes. A further advantage to be derived from the suppression of palaeontologists seems to be this—that there would be a better chance for the cultivation of true geology, which now, to some extent, has its professorial positions, its museums, and its publications invaded by these specialists. Whatever may be said in favour of the palæontologist, he cannot be allowed to claim geology as his own; nor should the capable geologist, as is unfortunately and so frequently the case, venture beyond his last, and discourse on zoology in the disguise of a palæontologist, for the disguise cannot effectually conceal his incompetency to deal with zoological problems.

Die Stämme des Thierreiches.

Von M. Neumayr. "Wirbellose Thiere." Erster Band. (Wien und Prag: Tempsky, 1889.)