THE GEOLOGICAL RECORD. 45 



Roderick Murchison has long ago proved, 

 there are parts of that record which are 

 singularly complete, and in those parts we 

 have the proofs of Creation without any 

 indication of Development. The Silurian 

 rocks, as regards Oceanic Life, are perfect 

 and abundant in the forms they have pre- 

 served, yet there are no Fish. The Devonian 

 Age followed, tranquilly, and without a break ; 

 and in the Devonian Sea, suddenly. Fish 

 appear — appear in shoals, and in forms of the 

 highest and most perfect type. There is no 

 trace of links or transitional forms between 

 the great class of Mollusca and the great 

 class of Fishes. There is no reason whatever 

 to suppose that such forms, if they had 

 existed, can have been destroyed in deposits 



