183 



Animal and Plant. [no. 4, nkyv skiuks, 



rank in their respective kingdoms, existing between the elusscs of 

 animals and vegetables living at the same time on the stage of the 

 world. Thus during the Pakvozoic division of fossiliferous history, 

 amid awful forests, pestiferous jungle, and impenetrable underwood 

 consisting of Monocotyledons, Gymnogcns, Acrogcns 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 enumerated 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. The 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 utter forth a glorious voice, 



The hand that made ui is divine !" 



