455 



XI. In the GRAVEL, lying on the blue clay, shells are found which 

 differ from those of any of the preceding strata, and nearly agree 

 with our recent shells. 



XII. In these UPPER and LESS ANTIENT STRATA are found the fossil 

 remains of land animals: and on this surface, which bears the 

 marks of considerable torrents, are disposed, at least in this 

 island, the present inhabitants. 



Does it not appear from this repeated occurrence of new beings, from 

 the late appearance of the remains of land animals, and from the total 

 absence of the fossil remains of man, that the creative power, as far as 

 respects this planet, has been exercised, continually, or at distant periods, 

 and with increasing excellence, in its objects, to a comparatively late 

 period : the last and highest work appearing to be man, whose remains- 

 have not yet been numbered among the subjects of the mineral king- 

 dom. 



FINIS. 



