ABSTRACT
The first naturalist, who clearly comprehended the theory of migration and correctly recognized its importance for the origin of new species, was the celebrated German geologist, Leopold Buch. Moritz Wagner, however, in his essay on Buch and Charles Darwin, has very justly pointed out that, with regard to the migration-theory, Buch must be looked upon as Darwin’s greatest predecessor. The strange chorological series of phenomena which show the horizontal distribution of organisms over parts of the earth, and their vertical distribution in heights and depths, have long since excited general interest. The strange chorological series of phenomena which show the horizontal distribution of organisms over parts of the earth, and their vertical distribution in heights and depths, have long since excited general interest. Louis Agassiz, stimulated by him, and considerably supported by the independent investigations of the eminent geologist Charpentier, afterwards undertook the task of carrying out the theory of the ice period.
