CONTINUITY. ,213 



tion, nor, unless we can suppose the experiments continued 

 through countless generations, is it likely to contribute much 

 to its solution. We must therefore have recourse to the 

 enlarged experience or induction from the facts of geology, 

 palaeontology, and physiology, aided by analogy from the 

 modes of action which nature evidences in other departments. 



The doctrine of gradual succession is hardly yet formula- 

 rised ; and though there are some high authorities for certain 

 modifications of such view, the preponderance of authority 

 would necessarily be on the other side. Geology and palae- 

 ontology are recent sciences, and we cannot tell what the 

 earlier authors would have thought or written had the more 

 recently discovered facts been presented to their view. Au- 

 thority, therefore, does not much help us on this question. 



Geological discoveries seemed, in the early period of the 

 science, to show complete extinction of certain species and the 

 appearance of new ones, great gaps existing between the cha- 

 racteristics of the extinct and the new species. As science 

 advanced, these were more or less filled up, and the difficulty 

 in the first instance of admitting unlimited modification of 

 species would seem to have arisen from the comparison of the 

 extreme ends of the scale where the intermediate links or 

 some of them were wanting. 



To suppose a Zoophyte the progenitor of a Mammal,.or to 

 suppose at some particular period of time a highly developed 

 animal to have come out of nothing, or suddenly grown out of 

 inorganic matter, would appear at first sight equally extrava- 

 gant hypotheses. As an effort of Almighty creative power, 

 neither of these alternatives presents more difficulty than the 

 other ; but as we have no means of ascertaining how creative 

 power worked, but by an examination and study of the works 

 themselves, we are not likely to get either view proved to 

 ocular demonstration. A single phase in the progress of 

 natural transmutation would probably require a term far 

 transcending all that embraced by historical records ; and, on 

 the other hand, it might be said, sudden creations, though 

 taking place frequently, if viewed with reference to the immen- 

 sity of time involved in geological periods, may be so rare 

 with reference to our experience, and so difficult of clear 



