THEORY OF THE EARTH. 435 



ncath the sea, onwards, the earth has hcen amply in- 

 habited at different periods, though we may not he able 

 to separate the records of this state, or these states, 

 now preserved in our uppermost secondary strata, from 

 those of the former. The lias is, itself, evidence of 

 terrestrial quadrupeds ; though the animals, hitherto 

 found, are, solely, amphibious, or flying ones : but I 

 need not repeat, that we have no right to decide on 

 the non-existence of others, because we do not find 

 their remains; as it is superfluous to say that there 

 also existed a creation of terrestrial vegetables* 



In that nearly final condition of the Earth in which 

 the last secondary strata had emerge'd, we are assured 

 of an extensive terrestrial creation; while, beyond this, 

 I need not now enquire, since the other forms of life 

 are implied : as these remains occur in that existing 

 condition, respecting the number of which I need not 

 now repeat the doubts ; being those found in certain 

 tertiary strata and marine elevated alluvia, which have 

 excited so much attention. I have formerly said, on 

 the subject of such deposits generally, that the nega- 

 tive evidence of the non-existence of human remains 

 is not sufficient to prove that the creation of Man had 

 not occurred at this period : but I think this general 

 conclusion will be made by all philosophers grounded 

 partly on history, and partly on geological circum- 

 stances which I need not now repeat, namely, that, 

 our own Creation was not appointed till the last great, 

 if partial changes, had been completed, and that it be- 

 longs to a condition of the earth removed by at least 

 one stage, if not more : which will therefore find its 

 numerical place, as it may hereafter be decided re- 

 specting the later revolutions. * 



It does not appear to me that the evidence respect- 

 ing the nature of these organized beings can now go 



