104 IN THE ACADIAN LAND. 



many million years ago. They clustered in the 

 twilight and captured their prey ages before 

 man came on this earth. Some time, doubtless, 

 the earlier rocks will reveal the remains of their 

 immediate ancestry, which is not now known. 



In all these chapters I take it for granted 

 that all our forms of life are outgrowths from 

 older and different forms. There are about ten 

 million different species of animal and vegetable 

 life now known to science, and there are vast 

 numbers of microbes that are visible only with 

 the best microscopes. All observation and rea- 

 soning warrant the belief that there were not 

 ten million separate creations, but they are the 

 varied branches from one or a few original liv- 

 ing creatures of simple structure. We can say 

 with certainty that all naturalists take that 

 view of the matter, because it explains numer- 

 ous difficulties, and harmonizes conflicting 

 phenomena. 



