1 44 Mr Conybeare on thcjbrmer Temperahire of 



trary tendency, must, to ordinary understandings, multiply that 

 probability till it assumes the highest rank of which probable 

 reasoning admits. How will Dr Fleming account for the re- 

 markable fact, that, in every extensive family of organic re- 

 mains, — every secondary formation *, which has been exa- 

 mined, — all the analogies invariably lean oneway, — all point to 

 the products of warmer climates, as the only beings with which 

 the tenants of our strata hold affinity ? How, on the supposition 

 that this coincidence is only accidental, will he account for the 

 absence of even a solitary example on the opposite side ? I con- 

 fidently challenge him to produce one. Dr Fleming's views of 

 the doctrine of chances must be as remote from those of the re- 

 puted masters of that science, as his geological notions from the 

 speculations of Professor Buckland, if he does not feel the force 

 of this mass of collective argument. However often, in this 

 game, we throw the dice, they always fall on the same face. 

 " Ne faut il done conviendre que les dis de la Nature sont pipees;" 

 or shall we say, nearly in the words of Milton, that this capri- 

 cious dame has purposely thrown deceptive indications as stum- 

 bling blocks in our way, in wanton mockery of the scrutiny of 

 geologists. 



" Her fabric she 

 Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move 

 Her laughter at their quaint opinions wide 

 Hereafter, when they come to model earth. 

 And calculate its beds, — how they will wield 

 The mighty frame, — how build, unbuild, contrive 

 To save appearances." 



Let us inquire, however, farther. What are actually the laws 

 observed by nature, in the geological distribution of her organic 

 creatures .'' Does she impose any limitations ? If she does. Are 

 those limitations regulated only by the consideration of species, 

 or do they extend to genera also .? To propose these questions 

 to any naturalist, is in effect to answer them. 



" I may except, perhaps, the lacustrine deposites of most recent origin, and 

 of merely local occurrence, which these circumstances exclude from weight in 

 the general question which regards the former temperature of the earth duw 

 ring the period of this formation of the regular strata, and the so-called dilu'- 

 vial graveL 



