CONTINUITY OF STRUCTURE ILLUSTRATED. 229 
number of intermediate buildings, passing from the 
pure Grecian to the pure Gothic architecture. The 
continuity, whatsoever as to space the buildings 
intermediate in structure may occupy, will be per- 
fect as far as relates to the gradation of form. 
‘And yet there must ever be some difference between 
the two structures nearest each other, in form: for 
if no interval exists, then these two must have the 
same structure, and one of them will thus produce 
no effect in continuing the chain of structure. In 
this kind of continuity, therefore, intervals between 
different forms are absolutely necessary; and if they 
do not exist, there is only one form. But in space 
or time an interval is impossible, and their con- 
tinuity depends on this impossibility. On the other 
hand, continuity in gradation of structure depends 
on the existence of intervals; but requires, in order 
that the gradation be more distinct, that these 
intervals be extremely small and numerous. If 
only one mean be interposed between two extremes, 
there will be two chasms, but no saltus, and the. 
three objects will be in continuity. Augment the 
number of various intermediate objects, and you 
only get the chasms more numerous, and the con- 
tinuity more perfect. To argue, therefore, about 
the innate impossibility of the law, is absurd: the 
only question for us now to examine, being, whether 
such a continuity as I have described can be shown 
to exist in nature. I think I have proved this in my 
Analysis and Synthesis of Petalocerous Coleoptera ; 
and what the Linnzans call natural genera, such as 
Rosa and Erica, are likewise all proofs of it: so 
that, if continuity manifestly holds good in these 
Q 3 
