LIFE ON THE EARTH. 181 



generation, and that the earth is reduced to ordi- 

 nary propagation. 



Jamque adeo fracta est setas, ecfoetaque tellus 

 Vix animalia parva creat, quse cuncta creavit 

 Saecla, deditque ferarum ingentia corpora partu. 



Tlie germs of life he supposes to be everywhere 

 provided through the universe in air, food, water 

 ready to be developed into species by the warmth of 

 the sun, in water or mud disposed to fecundity, so 

 that all life has proceeded from the sea. Whether 

 this constitution of things be ascribed to laws of 

 nature or the design of the Creator, he regards with 

 indifference, being satisfied that such a condition of 

 things is real. 



The difficulty of the change from watery life to 

 aerial life, he regards lightly. 



'A hundred millions of individuals must have 

 perished, without being able to assume the new 

 habit of life, but it is enough if two have survived 

 the trial, to give permanence to the race.' 



Here is one example of the process : 



'It may have happened, as indeed we know it 

 often does happen, that flying-fishes fell into bram- 

 bles or pastures, from which it was impossible to 

 return to the sea by the effort which brought them 

 from it, and that in this state they acquired a 

 greater power of flight. Their large fins, no longer 



