In these days of progress, when the alleged origin of the human race from a transmuted gorilla is canvassed as a demonstrable and demonstrated theory by many geologists and zoologists, and the pens of various distinguished writers are occupied to prove the absolute identity of man's physiological and psychological nature with that of the beasts of the field, it behoves the candid student of palæontology to inquire what are the fossil members of the Order of Mammalia immediately beneath man—the Quadrumana, and whether they are such individuals as might fulfil the hypothetical condition of being his ancestors, under any of the “derivative” theories propounded by Darwin or Lamarck.

In venturing upon this field of error, doubt, and confusion, I wish dispassionately to endeavour to divest myself of any adherence to any prevailing doctrine. Imbued strongly with the conviction of the unity of type of all animals, and with the probability of their common origin by secondary law, yet I advocate no theory which derives mankind from any known recent or fossil species of animal. Convinced of the distinctive peculiarities of the human brain, characters not satisfactorily demonstrated in any animal, yet I do not shut my eyes to the analogy which sometimes exists between the structures in the lowest men and the highest apes.

Now that the “season” is fast approaching for field-work, a few remarks concerning the geology of the above locality will doubtless be acceptable to many of our readers. Such of them who may have broken ground on it will remember with pleasure its beautiful scenery and the peculiar charms which attract the naturalist to it. That it is interesting in more respects than a merely geological one, is shown by the botanists who wander there in search of rare and beautiful plants, and the antiquarian who finds in its old keep and other more ancient relics subjects for thought. Above all “Moultrassie Hall” and “Peveril Castle” hold an honoured place in our literature enshrined by the genius of Scott. The flora of the locality is particularly interesting, especially that of the lower class. Maidenhair, spleenwort, and rue-leaved spleenwort grow upon almost every wall; and the cystopteris in several species is also common, whilst the adder's-tongue and the little moonwort are exceedingly plentiful in the richer pastures. The number of mosses is exceedingly great. The beautiful Bryum dendroides and others abound in the moister spots of the Cave Dale. In fact, the botanical character of the vegetation hereabout is so peculiar to the three formations which are found as to form a geological map to the underlying rocks, coloured by nature herself! The limestone clothed with its short and beautiful carpet of green; the black shales of the Yoredale rocks covered by their stunted and brown vegetation; and the millstone-grit in the glowing summer-time quite purple with the flowers of the heather.

This was found by a muleteer, in June, 1858, when passing the Cordillera from Catamarca to Copiapo, and brought by him to the latter city. He took it to be a rodado, or piece of silver-ore that had been broken from a vein and rounded by being washed with stones, say in the bed of a river; but on its being examined by Dr. David Garcia (a pupil of Domeyko), at Copiapo, he pronounced it to be a mass of meteoric iron,

Dr. D. Garcia is the manager of the “Transito“ maquina or silver amalgamating works, and has this specimen in his possession.