14 



Although many parts of the trilobite are now found 

 distributed through the rocks which contain them, 

 in such a manner as to lead to the conclusion, that 

 they were separated by decomposition, after the 

 death of the animal; yet the perfect preservation of 

 others, and the rolled and disjointed attitudes which 

 we should expect such creatures to assume when 

 disturbed, lead to the conjecture, that they have been 

 often suddenly destroyed, and as suddenly enveloped 

 in that earthy matter, which afterwards became an 

 indurated rock; thus preventing the separation of 

 the harder parts, by the slow process of decom- 

 position.* 



The fossil remains of the trilobite family, are sup- 

 posed by most naturalists to belong to a race of beings 

 now extinct; but from the strong analogy which ex- 

 ists between them and certain species of crustaceous 

 animals now living, it is highly probable that they 

 will yet be found alive. This opinion will not be 

 regarded as visionary, when it is recollected how 

 large a portion of the surface of the earth is still un- 

 explored by its enlightened and civilized inhabitants 

 how small the number of animated beings are yet 

 known to the scientific world and above all the fact, 

 that many animals as confidently declared to be pecu- 

 liar to a former world, are now found to be among 

 the creatures at present in existence. This opinion, 

 we think, is quite as plausible, and far more interest- 

 ing, than the blank and unsatisfactory hypothesis that 



* Vide De la Beche's Geological Manual. 



