3M TJElE VVORLD. 



were herds of deer and wild elephants. In Ireland, the fossil re- 

 mains of an enormous deer, surpassing the largest elks in size, are 

 found imbedded in the peat bogs. The expanse of the horns in 

 some of the specimens is sixteen feet. There is reason to believe 

 that this animal, though now entirely extinct, existed after the in- 

 troduction of the human race, since skulls have been found frac- 

 tured in front, as by the blow of some heavy weapon, and asso- 

 ciated with artificial remains. The small Irish ox, or bison, 

 was probably identical with the auroch of Lithuania, which is 

 only preserved from utter extermination by a stringent ukase of 

 the Czar. At the same time, most of the existing species of ani- 

 mals and vegetables flourished m great numbers. The earth was 

 teeming with life and fitted for the habitation of man. The va- 

 rious races which from time to time succeeded each other on our 

 planet, had performed their allotted tasks. The whole system 

 uniformly and without interruption, seems to have been matured. 

 The light soil deposited upon the harder rocks, and in the hollows 

 of ancient lakes, was gradually elevated* forming the present 

 continents and islands. How long the present stage of the earth's 

 existence may last, no one can pretend to answer. In all the 

 changes which have heretofore swept races of highly organized 

 '' beings from the face of the globe, we see the quiet action of laws 

 'now in force ; no sudden catastrophe is needed, but silently the 

 change goes on. 



" The Earth has gathered to her breast again, 

 And yet again, the millions that were born 

 Of her unnumbered, unremembered tribes." 



