396 THEORY OF PROGRESSION chap. xx. 



genera) in the upper portions of the same series; and, lastly, 

 in the recent appearance of Man on the surface of the earth." 



" This historical development," continues the same author, 

 "of the forms and functions of organic life during successive 

 epochs, seems to mark a gradual evolution of creative power, 

 manifested by a gradual ascent towards a higher type of 

 feeing." " But the elevation of the fauna of successive periods 

 was not made by transmutation, but by creative additions; and 

 it is by watching these additions that we get some insight into 

 ^Nature's true historical progress, and learn that there was a 

 time when Cephalopoda were the highest types of animal life, 

 the primates of this world ; that Fishes next took the lead, 

 then Reptiles ; and that during the secondary period they were 

 anatomically raised far above any forms of the reptile class 

 now living in the world. Mammals were added next, until 

 Nature became what she now is, by the addition of Man."* 



Although in the half-century which has elaj)sed between the 

 time of Lamarck and the publication of the above summary, 

 new discoveries have caused geologists to assign a higher an- 

 tiquity both to Man and the oldest fossil mammalia, fish, and 

 reptiles than formerly, yet the generalization, as laid down 

 by the Woodwardian Professor, still holds good in all essential 

 particulars. 



The progressive theory was propounded in the following 

 terms by the late Hugh Miller in his " Footprints of the 

 Creator." 



" It is of itself an extraordinary flict, without reference to 

 other considerations, that the order adopted by Cuvier in his 

 'Animal Kingdom,' as that in which the four great classes of 

 vertebrate animals, w^hen marshalled according to their rank 

 and standing, naturally range, should be also that in which 

 they occur in order of time. The brain, which bears an 



* Professor Sedgwick's Discourse on bridge. Preface to 5th ed. pp. xliv. 

 the Studies of the University of Cam- cliv. ccxvi. 1850. 



