112 THE PHENOMENA OF NATURE ARE 



action of secondary causes is complicated in correspondence 

 with the rank of the animal. The prevalence of secondary 

 causes is a matter of degree, from the highest degree of direct 

 action to the lowest or least degree of indirect influence. 



Another feature is not by any means to be overlooked, namely, 

 that the quality or intensity of the influence of secondary causes 

 varies not only with the rank of the animal, but also, I am 

 strongly inclined to believe, even in the same species, according 

 to the varying high or low degree of vitality of the creature. 

 Here I refer you again to the case of the monstrosities. 



I am well aware that it is a difficulty with some to compre- 

 hend how we creatures, who are so "fearfully and wonder- 

 fully made," who embrace in ourselves such a variety of forms, 

 relations, proportions, and properties, should be in any way sub- 

 ject to the action of secondary causes ; but if I were to refer 

 such persons to the chemist and physicist for the properties of 

 crystals, they would be told that there is as remarkable definite- 

 ness in their geometrical forms, each corresponding to its pe- 

 culiar chemical character, whether it is salt, or soda, or alum, or 

 sulphur, or iron, or gold, or quartz ; that each has its own mode 

 of action upon the rays of light, and also certain relations to mag- 

 netism ; in fine, that these inanimate crystals have as definite 

 laws as have animate beings to rule among them ; and that yet, 

 with all their varied properties, they are totally subject to secondary 

 causes. Had I time to enter into the subject, I might show you 

 how all the animate and inanimate forms, animals and plants 

 and minerals and fluids and gases, &c., are related in certain 

 of their features or characteristics to geometrical forms ; and how 

 mathematicians have demonstrated that geometrical forms are 

 merely the more tangible expressions of great mathematical 

 laws, which rule the movements of this mighty universe! But 

 I must refrain from any further consideration of this immediate 

 subject, lest we should become too far diverted from the main 

 point in question. 



We have seen thus far that all the varied phenomena con- 

 cerned in the production of animals, are based upon the idea of 



