SERIAL CONNECTION AMONG ANIMALS. 67 



mals preserved in the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes 

 in Paris, it is in reality inscribed in nature by these ani- 

 mals themselves, and is only read off when they are 

 brought together, and compared side by side, But it con- 

 tains an important element for our discussion. The series 

 is not built up of equivalent representatives in its diffe- 

 rent terms, some combinations being richly endowed, 

 others numbering a few, or even a single genus, and 

 others again being altogether disregarded. Such freedom 

 indicates selection, and not the working of the law of 



necessitv. 

 j 



And if, from a contemplation of this remarkable series, 

 we turn our attention to the indications relating to the 

 geographical distribution of these so closely linked genera 

 inscribed after their names, we at once perceive that 

 they are scattered all over the globe, but not so that 

 there can be any connection between the combinations 

 of their structural characters and their homes. The types 

 without legs are found in Europe, in Western Asia, in 

 Northern Africa, and at the Cape of Good Hope ; the 

 types with hind legs only, and with one single toe, at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, in South America, New Holland, and 

 New Guinea ; those with two toes at the Cape of Good 

 Hope only. Among the types with four legs, the origin of 

 those with but one toe to each foot is unknown ; those 

 with one toe in the fore foot and two in the hind foot are 

 from South Africa ; those with two toes in the fore foot 

 and one in the hind foot occur in the Philippine Islands ; 

 those with two toes to all four feet in New Holland ; those 

 with three toes to the hind feet and two to the fore feet, 

 in Algiers and New Holland. None are known with three 

 toes to the fore feet and two to the hind feet. Those with 

 three toes to the fore feet inhabit Europe, Northern Africa, 



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