We considered this point fully when speculating as to the
presence of man in the Miocene: so we have nothing further to
offer. We might, however, suggest that, if the hippopotamus
amongst mammals could survive all the changing time since the
Pliocene, as it has done, it seems no more than fair to admit
equal power of endurance to the human species. The position then
of the scientific world as to the Pliocene Age of man is, on the
whole, more decided in its favor than for the Miocene Age.
Quite a number of eminent scholars, whose conclusions are
worthy of all respect, unhesitatingly affirm the existence of
Pliocene man in Europe. Others are not quite ready to admit his
existence in Europe, but do think he was in existence elsewhere.
Still others, with all due respect for the discoveries of
Capellini, think it more prudent to await further discoveries.
The reader, who has followed us through this brief outline
of the past, can join which of the classes he will, and be sure
of finding himself in good company.

This completes our review of past geological ages. With the
termination of the Pliocene Age we find ourselves on firmer
ground. We only wish to call attention once more to the gradual
unfolding of life. We see that the rule has been that everywhere
the lower forms of life precede the higher. In the plant world
flowerless plants precede the flowering ones. The coal we burn
to-day is mainly the remains of the wonderful growth of the
flowerless vegetation of the Paleozoic Ace. When flowering
plants appear, it is the lower forms of them at first.

It was long ages before trees with deciduous leaves appeared.
The growth of animal life is equally instructive.