THE WONDERS OF THE SHOEE. 83 



idea on which older species were created, in order 

 that every mesh of the great net might gradually 

 be supplied, and there should be no gaps in the 

 perfect variety of Nature's forms. This develop- 

 ment is the only one of which we can conceive, 

 if we allow that a Mind presides over the universe, 

 and not a mere brute necessity, a Law (absurd 

 misnomer) without a Lawgiver ; and to it (strangely 

 enough coinciding here and there with the Platonic 

 doctrine of Eternal Ideas existing in the Divine 

 Mind) all fresh inductive discovery seems to point 

 more and more ; and especially Professor Owen's 

 invaluable tracts on the Homology of the Vertebrate 

 Skeleton. 



Let us speak freely a few words on this important 

 matter. Geology has disproved the old popular 

 belief that the universe was brought into being as 

 it now exists, by a single fiat. We know that the 

 work has been gradual ; that the earth 



'' In tracts of fluent heat began, 

 The seemmg prey of cyclic storms, 

 The home of seemmg random forms, 

 Till, at the last, arose the man." 



g2 



