THE CREATOR AS AN ARCHITECT. 65 



various modifications in the structure of each class, he pro- 

 duced the individual orders. By further variation in the 

 order, he created natural families. As the Creator further 

 varied the peculiarities of structure of individual parts in 

 each family, genera arose. In further meditation on his 

 plan of creation, he entered so much into detail that in- 

 dividual species came into existence, which, consequently, 

 are embodied creative thoughts of the most special kind. 

 It is only to be regretted that the Creator expressed these 

 most special and most deeply considered "creative thoughts" 

 in so very indistinct and loose a manner, and that he im- 

 printed so vague a stamp upon them, and permitted them to 

 vary so freely that not one naturalist is able to distinguish 

 the "good" from the "bad species," or a genuine species 

 from varieties, races, etc. (Gen. Morph. ii. 373.) 



We see, then, according to Agassiz's conception, that the 

 Creator, in producing organic forms, goes to work exactly 

 as a human architect, who has taken upon himself the task 

 of devising and producing as many different buildings as 

 possible, for the most manifold purposes, in the most dif- 

 ferent styles, in various degrees of simplicity, splendour, 

 greatness, and perfection. This architect would perhaps at 

 first choose four difierent styles for all these buildings, say 

 the Gothic, Byzantine, Chinese, and Rococo styles. In each 

 of these styles he would build a number of churches, palaces, 

 garrisons, prisons, and dwelling-houses. Each of these dif- 

 ferent buildings he would execute in ruder and more perfect, 

 in greater and smaller, in simpler and grander fashion, etc. 

 However, the human architect would perhaps, in this 

 respect, be better off than the divine Creator, as he would 

 have perfect liberty in the number of graduated subordinate 



