Professor Pictet on the Succession of Animals. 279 



well the differences which exist between the successive 

 faunas ; but there are likewise resemblances between these 

 faunas, which, perhaps, do not so well agree with it. 



If we compare two successive creations of one and the 

 same epoch, such as the faunas of the five divisions of the 

 cretaceous formation, we cannot fail to be struck with the 

 intimate connection they have with each other. The greater 

 part of the genera are the same, — a great part of the species 

 are very closely allied and easily confounded. In other 

 words, two successive faunas often present the same aspect, 

 or the same physiognomy ; if we compare, in particular, in 

 the example I have chosen, the fossil animals of the turonian 

 formation with those of the albian stage, we will readily, I 

 believe, recognise these resemblances. Is it probable that 

 the albian fauna had been completely annihilated, and then, 

 by a new independent creation, replaced by a fauna altogether 

 new, and so similar to it ? I am aware that these facts may 

 be referred to the general plan of creation ; but is the mind 

 entirely satisfied with this explanation 1 Does it not seem 

 that there is still something here which has escaped us \ 1 

 repeat, however, that these somewhat vague objections are, 

 in no degree, to be compared with those more specific difii- 

 culties which militate against the other theories. 



These facts are, moreover, connected with the manner in 

 which we may regard the existing creation. Have all ani- 

 mals issued from the hands of the Creator such as they now 

 are, or have they emanated from a certain number of types ? 

 It appears to me difiicult to admit that those innumerable 

 species, respecting the limits of which we are so often in 

 doubt, have, without exception, been created with all their 

 characters in detail. 



To these difficult questions, science furnishes us as yet 

 with very few satisfactory answers. The succession of 

 organised beings, the origin of the species now living, their 

 geographical distribution, the formation of the human races, 

 are only in some degree but difi^erent aspects of the same 

 problem, the solution of which, in one particular, would 

 necessarily throw light on the rest. 



