18 PHYSAD^. 



Strongest proofs in favor of Mr. Swainson's theory of re- 

 presentation. 



There are still those who suppose scientific research, and 

 religion, to be incompatible with each other; and who will 

 not receive a fact in the first department, until it be ad- 

 mitted upon competent authority in the other. Thus the 

 theory of the solar system proposed by Laplace, was not 

 well received until it was examined and put forth anew by 

 Herschell.* The next great question will be (now that 

 that of the interchange of species may be considered as 

 settled in the negative) to account for the succession of 

 animal forms, which the lithographic pages of geology 

 display to our view: that is, has there been an actual 

 modern creation, in the usual sense of the term, of all the 

 unfossilized recent forms; or have they been called forth 

 by laws established by Almighty power at the creation? 

 The latter opinion will be likely to prevail, if the alleged 

 production of a species of Acarus by galvanism, be proved 

 to have been accomplished; nor can I see anything more 

 impossible in the modern production of the Sarcoptes scabiei, 

 for example, than in the recent development of a crystal. f 



Should this question be fairly brought before the public, 

 some of the most bitter opponents of Lamarck, will pro- 

 bably adopt his views in full; as some of them have done 



* It is difficult to conceive why the early objections to 

 this one, should not have been turned against the theory of 

 gravitation. 



t The Reverend Wm. Kirby is of the opinion that the 

 pediculi were brought into existence subsequent to the 

 creation of man. 



