NATURAL HISTORY OF CREATION. 193 



producing its young in eggs, and having, like birds, a 

 clavicle between the two shoulders. The birds of 

 Australia vary in structure and plumage, but all have 

 some singularity about them — the swan, for instance, 

 is black. The country abounds in reptiles, and the 

 prev^alent fishes are of the early kinds, having a carti- 

 laginous structure. 



Altogether, the plants and animals of this minor 

 continent convey the impression of an early system of 

 things, such as might be displayed in other parts of the 

 earth about the time of the oolite. In connexion with 

 this circumstance, it is a fact of some importance, that 

 the geognostic character of Australia, its vast arid 

 plains, its little diversified surface and consequent 

 paucity of streams, and the very slight development 

 of volcanic rock on its surface, seem 10 indicate a system 

 of physical conditions, such as we may suppose to have 

 existed elsewhere in the oolitic era : perhaps we see the 

 chalk formation preparing there in the vast coral beds 

 frontiering the coast. Australia thus appears as a 

 portion of the earth which has, from some unknown 

 causes, been belated in its physical and organic develop- 

 ment. And certainly the greater part of its surface 

 is not fitted to be an advantageous place of residence 

 for beings above the marsupialia, and judging from 

 analogy, it may yet be subjected to a series of changes 

 in the highest degree inconvenient to any human beings 

 who may have settled upon it. 



The general conclusions regarding the geography of 

 organic nature may be thus stated. (i) There are 

 numerous distinct foci of organic production throughout 

 the earth. (2) These have everywhere advanced in 

 accordance with the local conditions of climate, &c., 

 as far as at least the class and order are concerned, a 



