20 



IV. — On Animals of the Chalk still found in a living state in the 

 Stomachs of Oysters. By the Rev. J. B. Reade. 



(Read December 11, 1844). 



"Si l'Auteur de la Nature est grand dans les grandes choses, il est tres grand dans 

 les petites." — J. J. Rousseau. 



Many years before Geology was a science, it was observed by my 

 relative, Dr. Paley, in his 'Natural Theology,' that "we never get 

 amongst such original or totally different modes of existence as to 

 indicate that we are come into the province of a different Creator, 

 or under the direction of a different will." This remark had exclusive 

 reference to living species of plants and animals in distant regions 

 and under various climates, and it has been extended by Dr. Buck- 

 land to all the various extinct forms of many preceding systems of 

 organization which we find entombed within the bowels of the earth. 

 But while we thus recognize the constancy of Nature's law amidst 

 the infinity of its modifications, it has been discovered, or, rather, as- 

 serted, that there is a break in the great geological chain of organized 

 beings, and that a link is wanting to connect the cretaceous and ante- 

 cedent series with the series of subsequent formations. In the pri- 

 mary and secondary formations, and again in the tertiary and recent, 

 there is, in some cases, an absolute identity of organic structure in 

 their respective animal or vegetable remains, which is supposed to be 

 altogether wanting between the secondary and tertiary. " Below the 

 tertiary formation," says Prof. Phillips, "are no recent species." 

 From this point, therefore, the work of creation is dated anew, and 

 upon this supposition is founded Mr. Lyell's arrangement of the sub- 

 division of the tertiary system, his Eocene period, or dawn of our 

 present animal and vegetable kingdoms, being coincident with the 

 third geological era. About five years ago Dr. Mantell evidently felt 

 some misgivings as to the accuracy of these views. He adopts Mr. 

 Lyell's arrangement as one of great utility in the present state of our 

 knowledge, but he adds, " it appears probable that it may require 

 considerable modification, or, perhaps, be afterwards altogether aban- 

 doned with the progress of geological research, for it cannot be 

 doubted that strata in which no recent species have been found may 

 yield them to more accurate and extended observation." It is re- 



