56 THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES 



ii 



ages. The other formations not uncommonly 

 exhibit 60, 80, or even 94 per cent, of genera in 

 common with those whose remains are imbedded 

 in their predecessor. Not only is this true, but 

 the subdivisions of each formation exhibit new 

 species characteristic of, and found only in, them ; 

 and, in many cases, as in the lias for example, the 

 separate beds of these subdivisions are distin 

 guished by well-marked and peculiar forms of life. 

 A section, a hundred feet thick, will exhibit, at 

 different heights, a dozen species of ammonite, 

 none of which passes beyond its particular zone 

 of limestone, or clay, into the zone below it or into 

 that above it ; so that those who adopt the doc 

 trine of special creation must be prepared to admit, 

 that at intervals of time, corresponding with the 

 thickness of these beds, the Creator thought fit 

 to interfere with the natural course of events for 

 the purpose of making a new ammonite. It is 

 not easy to transplant oneself into the frame of 

 mind of those who can accept such a conclusion 

 as this, on any evidence short of absolute demon 

 stration ; and it is difficult to see what is to be 

 gained by so doing, since, as wo have said, it is 

 obvious that such a view of the origin of living 

 beings is utterly opposed to the Hebrew cos 

 mogony. Deserving no aid from the powerful 

 arm of Bibliolatry, then, does the received form of 

 the hypothesis of special creation derive any 

 support from science or sound logic ? Assuredly 



