GENESIS OF ANIMAL KINGDOM. 233 



from the aggregate of all preceding developments of nature, as 

 constituting their general material germ, while they had no 

 special lineal connection with the forms next below them in 

 the series. Either of these suppositions would sufficiently 

 comport with the unity of the general plan which we have 

 before observed to pervade the works of creation. The 

 probability is, however, that both of these modes of pro- 

 duction were, to some extent, observed in the origination of 

 the ensemble of the Animal and other Kingdoms; but in 

 neither case is it probable that any form or creation was un- 

 folded, except upon the basis of a suitable preceding develop- 

 ment, which, in some sense, served as its material germ, or 

 predisposing condition of development. 



Unless we adopt some such theory as here propounded, 

 many natural facts facts which the cause of true theology 

 and religion can never be subserved by denying will remain 

 entirely inexplicable. 



