The illustrations are typical examples of the three arbitrary but convenient divisions of the history of life—the vegetable, the animal, and the human—such as will be most readily met with in museums. Slight as this sketch is, the liking for it shown by some intelligent children, who saw it in manuscript, encouraged me to believe that there are many others to whom it might prove interesting. Some acquaintance with the leading facts in science is daily becoming more necessary to those who aspire to liberal culture, and instruction in them is a recognised feature in the curriculum of some public and leading private schools. Thus, it is hoped that the present volume may to some extent serve as a text-book without the severity of such a form. The best English and foreign authorities have been consulted, and other trustworthy sources—as papers read before scientific societies—drawn upon, bringing the information down to the latest time. Though these pages are designed for young persons, other readers, perhaps, who are not familiar with the subject, may find some interest in them if they are not deterred by the necessarily simple style. My thanks are due to Mr. H. B. WOODWARD, of the Geological Survey of England and Wales, for some valuable suggestions made during the progress of the work. A. N. HAMPSTEAD: _November 1876_. CONTENTS. PAGE THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PUZZLE 1 THE GEOLOGICAL PART 17 THE VEGETABLE PART 56 THE ANIMAL PART 77 THE HUMAN PART 120 CONCLUSION 168 INDEX 171 ILLUSTRATIONS. THE MAMMOTH _Frontispiece_ I. UPHEAVAL: SUBSIDENCE: DENUDATION 51 II. DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANTS OF THE COAL FORESTS 65 III. TRILOBITE 79 IV. FOOTPRINTS OF LABYRINTHODON: FOOTPRINTS OF BIRDS, (2) WITH MARKS OF RAIN-DROPS 83 V. FISH-REPTILES 87 VI. BIRD-REPTILES 93 VII. FOSSILS OF THE CHALK 97 VIII. GIGANTIC IRISH STAG (CERVUS MEGACEROS) 108 IX. THE MEGATHERIUM 112 X. 1. FLINT ARROW-HEAD; 2. STONE AXE IN HANDLE; 3. FLINT KNIFE; 4. BONE HARPOON; 5. BONE NEEDLES; 6. SCEPTRE MADE OF HORN; 7. MARROW SPOON 129