182 LIFE ON THE EARTH. 



bathed by the waters of the sea, divided and opened 

 in drying; the separated fin-rays prolonged them- 

 selves, and became covered with barbs, or to speak 

 exactly, the membranes which had previously held 

 them together were metamorphosed. The barb form- 

 ed of these separated pellicles, lengthened itself; 

 the skin gradually covered itself with a down of 

 the same colour, and this down increased. The 

 subventral fins, which, as well as the large fins, 

 assisted their promenade in the sea, became feet, 

 and served them for walking on the earth. Some 

 other small changes took place in their shape. The 

 beak and neck of some were lengthened, of others 

 shortened; and so of the other parts of the body. 

 But still the conformity of the original figure remains 

 on the whole; and it is and always will be easy to 

 recognize.' 



So much for the origin of Birds ! By processes 

 equally easy and satisfactory, the sea is shewn to be 

 the parent of quadrupeds and men. 



GERMS OF LIFE. 



Buffon adopted similar views as to the deriva- 

 tion of the forms of life, and was followed by one 

 greatly superior in real knowledge of nature, who 



