Extinction, of Organic Beings. 469 



focus, as it were, the various genera and species were to 

 multiply and spread themselves. 



Now various objections might be raised against this 

 hypothesis ; and first, it may be asked, were these mountains 

 isolated, or connected by other chains or ranges with vari- 

 ous regions of the earth ? 



Isolated they could not have been ; for if they had, then 

 must the animals which delighted in cold climates have 

 been merely local, and without the power of dispersing 

 their species over other parts, for being unsuited by reason 

 of their constitutions to undergo the heats of the plains 

 below, and their proper food also failing them, they would 

 undoubtedly have perished in attempting to find other 

 countries adapted to them. 



Thus for instance, the yak of Tartary and Thibet/ 1 } the 

 wild Himalyan sheep, (2) the musk deer, (3) sikeen,< 4) jahral/ 5) 

 and various other animals peculiar to the higher and colder 

 regions of the mountains, will not live in the scorching 

 plains of India, and degenerate and die even in the lower 

 ranges. Again, the monauty 6) the golden-breasted trago- 

 pan/ 7) and others of the feathered tribes, whose natures fit 

 them for a residence in a cold climate, would all have 

 perished in seeking new countries adapted to their wants 

 and constitutions. 



How then could such species have been spread from 

 their isolated cradle ? 



I am aware it may be objected in this case, that if these 

 animals could not have spread themselves over the earth 

 before, so neither could they have done so since the Deluge, 

 for as they were taken into the ark, they must necessarily 

 have diffused themselves from a common centre or focus, 



(!) Bos poephagus. (2) Ovis nahoor. 



(3) Moschus moshciferus ? ( 4 ) Caprajaela. 



( 5 ) Capra jahral. ' (6) Lophophorus Impeyanus. 



(?) Tragopan Hastingsii. 



3 p 



