In the Silurian we have "much to
suggest uniformity of climate"--in fact, we have just the same
evidence for it--and in the Devonian, when land-plants abound and
afford better evidence, we find the same climatic equality of
living things in the most different latitudes. Finally, "most of
the data at hand indicate that the climate of the Lower
Carboniferous was essentially uniform, and on the whole both
genial and moist" (ii, 518). The "data," we may recall, are in
this case enormously abundant, and indicate the climate of the
earth from the Arctic regions to the Antarctic. Another recent
and critical geologist, Professor Walther ("Geschichte der Erde
und des Lebens," 1908), admits that the coal-vegetation shows a
uniformly warm climate from Spitzbergen to Africa. Mr. Drew ("The
Romance of Modern Geology," 1909) says that " nearly all over the
globe the climate was the same--hot, close, moist, muggy" (p.
219).
* An apology is due here in some measure. The work which I quote
as of Professor Chamberlin ("Geology," 1903) is really by two
authors, Professors Chamberlin and Salisbury. I merely quote
Professor Chamberlin for shortness, and because the particular
ideas I refer to are expounded by him in separate papers.
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