136 ESSAY ON CLASSIFICATION 



ing the whole development of nature from beginning to end, and 

 disclosing throughout a gradual progress, ending with the introduc- 

 tion of man at the head of the animal creation. 



25th. The parallelism between the order of succession of animals 

 in geological times and the changes their living representatives un- 

 dergo during their embryological growth exhibits thought; the repe- 

 tition of the same train of thoughts in the phases of growth of living 

 animals and the successive appearance of their representatives in 

 past ages. 



26th. The combination in many extinct types of characters which, 

 in later ages, appear disconnected in different types exhibits thought, 

 prophetic thought, foresight; combinations of thought preceding 

 their manifestation in living forms. 



27th. The parallelism between the gradation among animals and 

 the changes they undergo during their growth exhibits thought, as it 

 discloses everywhere the most intimate connection between essential 

 features of animals which have no necessary physical relation, and 

 can therefore not be understood otherwise than as established by a 

 thinking being. 



28th. The relations existing between these different series and the 

 geographical distribution of animals exhibit thought; they show the 

 omnipresence of the Creator. 



29th. The mutual dependence of the animal and vegetable king- 

 doms for their maintenance exhibits thought; it displays the care 

 with which all conditions of existence necessary to the maintenance 

 of organized beings have been balanced. 



30th. The dependence of some animals upon others or upon plants 

 for their existence exhibits thought; it shows to what degree the most 

 complicated combinations of structure and adaptation can be ren- 

 dered independent of the physical conditions which surround them. 



We may sum up the results of this discussion, up to this point, in 

 still fewer words: — 



All organized beings exhibit in themselves all those categories of 

 structure and of existence upon which a natural system may be 

 founded, in such a manner that, in tracing it, the human mind is 

 only translating into human language the Divine thoughts expressed 

 in nature in living realities. 



All these beings do not exist in consequence of the continued 



