SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIVE GEOLOGY. 565 



the Paris basin. But his sagacity in applying his 

 own great principle of the conditions of existence, 

 gave him a peculiar and unparalleled power in 

 interpreting the most imperfect fossil records of 

 extinct anatomy. In the constitution of his mind, 

 all philosophical endowments were so admirably 

 developed and disciplined, that it was difficult to 

 say, whether more of his power was due to genius 

 or to culture. The talent of classifying which he 

 exercised in geology, was the result of the most 

 complete knowledge and skill in zoology ; while his 

 views concerning the revolutions which had taken 

 place in the organic and inorganic world, were in 

 no small degree aided by an extraordinary com- 

 mand of historical and other literature. His guid- 

 ing ideas had been formed, his facts had been 

 studied, by the assistance of all the sciences which 

 could be made to bear upon them. In his geolo- 

 gical labours we seem to see some beautiful temple, 

 not only firm and fair in itself, but decorated with 

 sculpture and painting, and rich in all that art and 

 labour, memory and imagination, can contribute 

 to its beauty (A A). 



