during the Formation of the Crust of the Earth. 85 



that we designate under the name of terripetal evolution. Either 

 by the successive sequence of organisms, or by the transformation 

 of their characters, even in cases in which the causes of transfor- 

 mation are unknown to us, this evolution is manifested to us as a 

 perfectly general law of development, which we call the terripetal 

 law. As, in general, the inhabitants of coasts are characterized 

 by a higher degree of organization than the inhabitants of the 

 depths of the sea, and the inhabitants of the dry land by a 

 higher degree of organization than those of the waters, this law 

 is intimately connected with a progressive development. The 

 first terrestrial plants* (if we do not take into account the coals 

 of Portugal, the Silurian nature of which is doubtful) date from 

 the Devonian formation; the first amphibious animals make 

 their appearance in very small number at the same epochf. The 

 first veritable inhabitants of the dry land, respiring air (insects) 

 and walking, make their appearance in the carboniferous forma- 

 tion. From this moment the number of terrestrial organisms 

 constantly increases, and finally predominates over that of the 

 marine organisms. 



Second fundamental law. 



12. Besides this first law, there evidently exists a positive and 

 independent law of creation, which manifests itself to us in the 

 simplicity and perfect order of all the simultaneous or successive 

 modifications of the organized world. The external conditions 

 of existence only permitted the investigation of the plan which 

 presided in the creation at each moment and in all the series of 

 time from a perfectly negative point of view. But this second 

 law, thanks to its positive character, furnishes us with the means 

 of following the conducting clue with far more facility and con- 

 clusiveness than was permitted by the former, which is so com- 

 plex. Hence results, in the first place, the strict uniformity in 

 all the creation which existed simultaneously at each moment 

 upon the whole surface of the earth ; hence the simultaneous 

 appearance and disappearance of genera and species in all regions 

 and under every zone ; hence the constant equilibrium between 

 the plants and animals, the terrestrial and aquatic animals, the 

 Herbivora and Carnivora in each creation ; and all this realized far 

 more exactly than could have happened under the influence of 

 the external conditions of existence alone, which may certainly 

 destroy, but can produce nothing. The unfolding of the plan 



* The earliest land-plants now known are those indicated by the Lyco- 

 podiaeeous seed-vessels and fragments of woody tissue in the uppermost 

 Silurian beds. — Ed. Annals. 



t If the Telerpeton of Elgin be here referred to, we may remark that it 

 is very doubtful if this fossil be of Devonian age. — Ed. Annals. _ ^ , , 



