OP CREATION. 393 



with other causes concerning which it would be idle 

 to speculate, had far more to do with the extent 

 and the true nature of the organic forms, than any 

 incomplete development of the mammalian class. 



The notion of a true progressive development, the 

 geologist therefore, as well as the zoologist and bo- 

 tanist, must except against. There are no good 

 grounds for believing in its existence in any case 

 at present ; and the history of the past is decidedly 

 opposed to the idea of such a plan having ever been 

 in operation. 



Nature, in fact, will not allow herself to be tor- 

 tured into our systems, nor will she adapt herself to 

 the procrustean bed of any system-maker amongst 

 us. The infinite ramifications of life, the thrusting 

 in, as it were, in every spot where life is possible, of 

 those animals and vegetables best fitted to exist un- 

 der such circumstances ; these of themselves are suffi- 

 ciently important facts, and speak clearly enough to 

 check presumptive and hasty generalizations, if in- 

 deed it were possible to check this natural tendency 

 to advance too hastily to conclusions. At all de- 

 grees of temperature, from the surface of snow to 

 the boiling water of hot springs ; in all soils, from the 

 rich land of the tropics to the barren desert ; on the 

 whitened surface of pure salt and on the naked rock 

 on the mountain summit ; in all degrees of light, from 

 the full glare of sunshine to the darkest recesses of 

 the rocky cavern ; in air and in water ; upon the 

 earth, and even beneath the earth ; at all times., from 

 the first introduction of living beings until now we 

 find pressing in on every side abundant evidence of 

 this marvellous fact, this perpetual miracle. We are 



s 5 



