182 
A?iimal and Plant. [xo. 4, ne^v series, 
rank in their respective kingdoms, existing between the classes of 
animals and vegetables living at the same time on the stage of the 
world. Thus during the Palaeozoic division of fossiliferous history, 
amid awful forests, pestiferous jungle, and impenetrable underwood 
consisting of Monocotyledons, Gymnogens, Acrogens and Thallo- 
gens, there lived molluscs and a few reptiles, while the waters of 
the same period were occupied by corals and crustaceans, all ani- 
mals of low type. Advancing to the next or middle great division, 
we find specimens of the classes enun^^rated as characteristic of the 
previous period, only modified in accordance with other features of 
that creation. In addition to these however, we have gigantic rep- 
tiles and birds, a few mammals and some dicotyledonous plants. 
Then comes the tertiary period, when the dicotyledon is king of 
the forest, when mammals of immense proportions are predominant, 
and reptiles are dwarfed into something like their present size. 
Thus throughout the two kingdoms we have a contemporaneous 
progression from the lower to the higher forms, as the earth is 
changed from an impracticable to the present world with all its 
beauteous creations, of which man is lord. We find no traces of his 
footsteps however, in the Palaeozoic or any other formation, until 
the earth has been made a fit and pleasant habitation for him and 
his seed for ever. Neither have we a plant of the higher orders, 
living together with animals or vegetable forms of low caste, during 
an early fossiliferous era. Tne sun did not then shine with his pre- 
sent benignity, not a bird looked down on its shadow in those dreary 
waters teeming with monsters, never did its notes sing of verdant 
plains, of pleasant groves, of fertile valley and bounteous river, but 
the discordant cries of fearful forms, the weak in their death agony, 
the strong rejoicing in their might, startled the echoes amid forests 
of fabulous extent and trees of eccentric appearance. In each and 
all of these periods of Geological history, we find certain classes of 
animals co-existing with consonant grades of vegetable productions. 
We find not a single departure from this rule, for throughout all 
the works of the great Creator there is a constant harmony. 
"In reason's ear they all rejoice 
And uUer forth a glorious voice, 
The baud that made us is divine !" 
V 
