238 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



its numerous inhabitants, but nothing has occurred to con- 

 firm the idea that modern contemporaneous races have 

 perished from want of sufficient powers to keep their 

 place. 



That genera and species once existed on the surface of the 

 earth which now no longer enjoy life there, is certain from 

 their fossil remains ; that many of these were rather tyrants 

 than the victims of power is most probable, for some of them 

 certainly exceeded in strength any which now remain. It 

 is not therefore to casualties of this description that their 

 present nonentity is to be attributed — the calamity which 

 destroyed them was of a general overwhelming character, 

 as the circumstances and situation of their remains suffi- 

 ciently evince. But we must not be led away into the wide 

 field of fossil osteology and geological science ; our present 

 object is simply to observe that the power which created 

 was able by its providence to preserve, during the period 

 prescribed for the existence of the creature ; and that there 

 are no facts to warrant the supposition that creation has 

 ever been rendered abortive in a general sense by the excess 

 of power in one race of animals working the total destruc- 

 tion of another. Man, indeed, who is in some respects the 

 Vicegerent of Heaven here, might be able to do much in this 

 respect. Wherever human civilization has advanced, the 

 savage races of animals have receded. Our own island was 

 once pestered with Wolves, but we proscribed them, and 

 circumstances favoured their disappearance. Whatever 

 man may be able to effect, there is no reason to suppose 

 that he has in fact done much in the case in question ; 

 and we may well suppose that special interposition would 

 not be wanting to check even in him whatever would be 

 prejudicial to creation in the mass, and to the will of the 

 Creator, if ordinary means became ineffectual for the pur- 

 pose. 



The female of the Guinea-pig is capable of gestation at 



