04 RELICS FROM THE WRECK 



O, how varied are the aspects this planet presents in the 

 course of this vast revolution ! The first certain glance we 

 obtain presents to our view a world whose seas teemed with 

 living inhabitants, chiefly of the fish tribes, of various size, 

 of the most fantastic shapes, and of the most elegant col- 

 ors. Perishable as the last quality is, we have seen rise, 

 phoenix-like, from the plates or scales of one of these fossil 

 fishes, under the influence of a powerful glass, in hues that 

 rival those of the rainbow. Meanwhile, the land presents 

 but a scanty vegetation, which may give shelter and sup- 

 port to living creatures, but none of which come within 

 the sphere of our vision. Another turn, and the earth is 

 clothed with a luxuriant and extensively distributed vege- 

 tion, resembling that of the tropics in the present time ; 

 while the seas and lakes swarm with shell and other 

 fishes. We look again, and behold creatures of monstrous 

 size, and singular conformation, basking on the banks of 

 rivers, gamboling in the fenny pools, crawling on the moist 

 earth, or floating through the air. Another glance, and 

 the noble forests are seen to give shelter to quadrupeds, 

 in comparison to which the largest of the present time 

 appear dwarfish. These browse upon the leaves and tender 

 sprouts, or burrow in the earth in search of roots. Still 

 another glance, and these creatures are being replaced by 

 others more nearly approaching the type of living crea- 

 tion. 



In all this, there is the amplest evidence that the Crea- 

 tor of the " heaven and the earth" is great, and wise, and 

 good. His power is felt in every change, His wisdom is 

 manifest in every arrangement ; and every plant, and tree, 

 and creature, speaks of His goodness. 



