204 ESSAY ON CLASSIFICATION. 



26th. The combination, in many extinct types, of 

 characters, which, in later ages, appear disconnected in 

 different types, exhibits thought, prophetic thought, fore- 

 sight ; combinations of thought preceding their manifesta- 

 tion in living forms. 



27th. The parallelism between the gradation among 

 animals and the changes they undergo during their growth, 

 exhibits thought, as it discloses everywhere the most inti- 

 mate connection between essential features of animals 

 which have no necessary physical relation, and can, there- 

 fore, not be understood otherwise than as established by a 

 thinking being. 



28th. The relations existing between these different 

 series and the geographical distribution of animals, ex- 

 hibit thought ; they show the omnipresence of the Creator. 



29th. The mutual dependence of the animal and 

 vegetable kingdoms upon each other for their maintenance, 

 exhibits thought; it displays the care with which all con- 

 ditions of existence, necessary to the maintenance of organ- 

 ized beings, have been balanced. 



30th. The dependence of some animals upon others or 

 upon plants for their existence, exhibits thought; it shows 

 to what degree the most complicated combinations of 

 structure and adaptation can be rendered independent of 

 the physical conditions which surround them. 



We may sum up the results of this discussion, up to 

 this point, in still fewer words : 



All organized beings exhibit in themselves all those 

 categories of structure and of existence upon which a 

 natural system may be founded, in such a manner that, 

 in tracing it, the human mind is only translating into 

 human language the Divine thoughts expressed in nature 

 in living realities. 



