256 ADVENTURES IN THE NORTHERN SEAS. 



lar range of rocky mountains, the banks of a par- 

 ticular river, or a particular series of flats ; in other 

 places as many as six varieties may be seen at one 

 coup d'oeil, and as many % as ten or twelve in the 

 course of a morning's ride. Of several varieties 

 which inhabit the vast Kalahari Desert, some do 

 not drink above once in three or four days, and 

 others are never known to drink at all. The whole 

 of these antelopes, although differing more or less 

 in size, color, shape, horns, and habits, have strong 

 points of resemblance to one another, first in groups 

 or classes, and then altogether. Some of them are 

 so nearly alike to another variety that no two peo- 

 ple, either among naturalists or among the colonists 

 and inhabitants, seem to be agreed whether these 

 very similar varieties constitute separate species or 

 not. 



Now, will any man attempt to make me believe 

 that each and all of these numerous varieties (or 

 species) of antelopes were originally brought into 

 being separately and distinctly as we see them now? 

 That one variety was specially created for this pet- 

 ty locality, and another for that ? That there was 

 a special interposition of Providence to create a 

 variety about the outskirts of the desert, which 

 should only drink water once in three or more days, 

 and other varieties which should be absolute non- 

 drinkers ? 



I think reflection and an attentive observation 

 of nature lead one to a very different conclusion. 



