CHAPTER XVI. 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION. 



" Every step which enables us more truly to interpret the workings of 

 the Divine mind in Nature, necessarily brings us nearer to, and gives 

 us a more intelligent idea of, a Creator." 



RILEY, Third Report on the Insects of Massachusetts, p. 175. 



THE subject of Evolution is so vast that in a 

 short treatise like the present it is only 

 possible to call attention to a few salient 

 points ; but it is hoped that enough has been 

 said to indicate the importance of this great 

 law as one of the mainsprings of the Universe, 

 and pre-eminently illustrative of the wisdom 

 and goodness of God in the Order of Nature. 



It may here be useful briefly to sum up the 



line of argument which has been followed, and 



the conclusions at which we have arrived. 



(1.) The speculations of antiquity on matters 



of physical science are nearly worthless, 



because most of the ancients possessed 



too slight a knowledge of the earth and 



o o 



the Universe, to form any adequate con- 



