280 Professor Pictet on the Succession of Animals. 



I believe, then, that the theory of successive creations,* 

 which is the most admissible, is true, when viewed as a whole, 

 but that other causes are, perhaps, united with it to deter- 

 mine the actual state of the creation, and of the anterior 

 faunas. Perhaps the modifications of species, which I have 

 shewn above to be incapable of explaining the formation of 

 new types, and the appearance of very different species, have 

 themselves exercised some influence in causing a certain 

 number of very nearly allied species to arise from a common 

 type. Perhaps, in other words, it is necessary in regard to 

 this question, as in the case of so many others, not to seek 

 too exclusive an explanation, and to admit the intervention 

 of various causes. 



Besides, I do not believe that science is in a state to give 

 a definite solution ; we may more or less foresee it, but we 

 are not yet in a condition to demonstrate it. It is to the 

 close and intelligent study of nature that the task belongs of 

 bringing togetlier materials for this purpose. We must be 

 still better acquainted with each of the successive creations • 

 to enable us to form a complete idea of their relations and 

 their differences, when compared with those which have pre- 

 ceded and followed them. This is the most important prob- 

 lem of palaeontology, but its solution will be found only in 

 the observation of facts ; these alone are stable, and, perhaps, 

 they alone will survive all the theories which we now discuss. 

 — F. J. Pictet^ Paleontologie. 



* I may here observe that the theory of successive creations is the 

 only one which connects itself logically with the law, that species are all 

 different frona one formation to another, because it renders this law 

 necessary. This is, in my opinion, an argument very much in its favour. 

 At the same time, we must not be in too great haste to bind the future 

 condition of paleeontology by preconceived ideas, and we must seek the 

 truth where it is really to be found. Perhaps, also, an intermediate 

 theory may likewise agree with this law. 



