CREATION BY LAW. 233 



Law of a kind to explain the Method which 

 has been followed in the introduction of new 

 Forms. 



We may test this question by bringing to bear 

 upon it some particular example of specific varia- 

 tion. I select for this purpose one example, which 

 will illustrate the subject better than any abstract 

 discussion. It is the case of the Humming Birds. 



This group of birds seems to exhibit, in the 

 most striking form, not a few of those mysteries 

 of Creation which at once tempt us to speculate 

 on the Origin of Species, and at the same time 

 confound every endeavour to bring it into relation 

 with any process which we know or can conceive. 

 In the first place, they are sharply defined from 

 all other forms in that Class of the animal king- 

 dom to which they belong. It is most difficult to 

 say what is their nearest affinity, and the nearest, 

 when it is found, is very distant. Secondly, they 

 are absolutely confined to one Continent of the 

 Globe. In the third place, the various Species as 

 amongst themselves are very closely united, rang- 

 ing, indeed, over a great variety of forms, but for 

 the most part connected with each other by very 



