90 W. J. Burnett on the Relations of Cells to the 
is true? It is the characteristic of physical forces that they act 
on the probability of future contingencies. The amount of ant 
mal and vegetable life on the earth’s surface, in localities not dis 
turbed byehuman or other agencies of an accidental nature, has 
the mutual relations of animals and vegetables exist now as we 
have reason to believe they did in the beginning. 
There is no evidence that there has hitherto been a bonsai 
oscillation, and that the present rest and harmony is one ulti 
mately and neenanent yg gained. Now in all these animals and 
patiang we find their reproduetive powers, the capacity of theit 
organs of generation, exactly in accordance with their liabilities 
to destruction. Were this the place, the truth of this remark 
might be illustrated by many special instances. But it is evi 
dent that by this almost prescient adaptation, the numerical rela- 
tions of species are preserved unchanged ; and those who are 
miliar with the leading results of zoological research at the pres: 
ent day, can scarcely entertain this subject in the light of a 
question 
The next point of discussion is, whether, admitting organization 
to exist always in virtue of determinate ideas, it is not unphys 
and unphilosophical to assert,,as we must, that these ideas or pe- 
culiar forces exist previous to the material forms in which they 
are ultimately expressed? This question is so specious that at 
first an affirmative answer appears to be the only correct one. 
But a little consideration will, T think, show its error. _ Our 
knowledge of physical phenomena is derivable from observation 
only ; and when points are urged upon us which we have not 
observed, and which also do not seem compatible with hbithert? 
existing observation, they are liable to be pronounced unphys! 
But the history of any of the inductive sciences has shown that the 
singularity of any hypothesis or opinion, concerning physical phe 
nomena, is no a priori epee against its truth. ‘This remark 's 
pane on the os alone of As xi Pg ; ale much more 
will it be admissible if its singularity can be. dispr roved.. ed 
disproval may be found, I think, in the numerous sanaloggn a 
nomena of generation. Here we are driven to the admission. n of 
the existence of forces, long before the fora tion. of es male 
rial organs, in which they ultimately find their expressi 
Take, for instance, the cicatricula of a robin, and chat it also of 
asi baw physically they resemble each other exactly, and ” 
scopical analysis can sce, between ther ge aif 
Tope on erent 
