FOSSILS. 181 



from the period of the last and great deluge. Allu- 

 vial formations certainly contain the bones of animals, 

 dead shells, and trees : but these are of the same 

 species at present existing, and thereby differ ma- 

 terially from the second kind of strata which includes 

 all those deposits, succeeding the primitive rocks up 

 to that time in which the waters of the deluge (des- 

 cribed in the Bible, and preserved in the traditions 

 of nations) retired to their present site. On exam- 

 ining the strata comprising the crust of the globe, 

 w^e perceive the most unequivocal proofs of successive 

 depositions : each of which as a general rule may be 

 stated to possess fossils of a kind different from those 

 preceding and following them in the other strata. 

 Moreover, on a nearer examination and comparison 

 of fossil specimens, it is found that, in proportion as 

 we rise from the most ancient of thi^ kind of strata, 

 to that which resulted from the action of the great 

 deluge, so, likewise, do we rise in the gradation of 

 animals, from the lowest tribes to such as stand 

 highest in the scale of beings, and bear the greatest 

 affinity to existing tribes. Thus we have a consecu- 

 tive progression observed in the creation of animals, 

 from the lowest of the zoophytic tribes to quadru- 

 manous animals and Man — an observation in perfect 

 accordance with the Mosaic account: and thus, 

 also, do we learn, that the revolutions of the earth 

 have been numerous, and that, of these, the one 

 mentioned by Moses was the last. It is therefore 

 to zoology, to an acquaintance with the laws of 

 physiology, that geologists are so much indebted 

 for an excellent and beautiful illustration of some of 

 the fundamental doctrines of their science. If they 

 had not been aware of a gradation in the chain of 

 beings, and that upon that principle they were cre- 

 ated ; if they had not known how to distinguish 

 genera and species ; and if they had not been aware 

 of the laws of dependance in nature, by which we are 

 enabled to explain why certain animals are found 

 grouped together in strata, how would the geological 



