Permanence and Evolution. 1 1 1 



creation principle, this similarity of structure 

 in animals so widely different is really an 

 awkward fact. To the supporters of special 

 creation, the question presents itself in its 

 simplest form thus : we have now on the earth 

 a large assemblage of paridigitate mammals, 

 presenting widely diversified generic and specific 

 forms, fitted for the most different conditions 

 of life, some leading an amphibious existence, 

 sharing the large streams with crocodiles, while 

 others inhabit inaccessible rocks or burning 

 sand plains ; some heavy and sluggish, others 

 light and swift, etc. And yet the creative force, 

 in calling separately into existence these diver- 

 sified forms, made them all on one plan, and 

 this to such an extent that even the seven bones 

 of the carpus and tarsus, notwithstanding their 

 irregular shape, were always arranged in the 

 same way, so that a certain facet of one bone 

 always touched a certain particular facet of 

 another, and never otherwise. 



