184 LIFE ON THE EARTH. 



and acquired habits and desires, other different and 

 superior races of animals may have been formed. 



In this hypothesis we have three assumptions: 



First, that some of the inferior tribes of plants 

 and animals are producible by the agency of caloric 

 and electricity from dead matter, and that loco- 

 motion in some of these is accomplished by the ex- 

 ternal influence of these exciting fluids, and not by 

 the inherent power of the creature. 



Secondly, that the organic beings thus originating 

 are capable of indefinite change of form and struc- 

 ture from the force of external circumstances. 



Thirdly, that new habits of life are acquired with 

 the new structures ; that individual desires or long- 

 ings have influence in the further development; and 

 that the acquisition and exercise of the senses, in- 

 stinct, reason, hope and fear, memory of the past, 

 and expectation of the future, is a part of this stu- 

 pendous chain of metamorphism with a tendency to 

 progressive improvement. 



Neither of these assumptions is proved, or ren- 

 dered probable; but rather becomes less and less 

 acceptable the more we consider the illustrations 

 suggested by the author, which are scarcely less sur- 

 prising than the instance already quoted from Telli- 

 amed. 



The foundation in truth for this hypothesis is 



