ANIMAL REMAINS. 61 
and commence our examination of the relics 
of a former world, with a view to ascertain 
how far the fossil members of the animal and 
vegetable kingdoms may, or may not, be related 
to existing genera and species, as parts of one 
great system of creation, all bearing marks of 
derivation from a common author."^ 
Beginning with the animal kingdom, we find 
the four great existing divisions of Vertehrata, 
Mollusca, u4rticulata, and Radiata, to have been 
coeval with the commencement of organic life 
upon our globe. t 
* In Plate 1 , I have attempted to convey some idea of the 
organic remains preserved in the several series of formations, by 
introducing- over each, restored figures of a few of the most cha- 
racteristic animals and vegetables that occupied the lands and 
waters, at the periods in which they were deposited. 
f " It has not been found necessary, in discussing the history 
of fossil plants and animals, to constitute a single new class ; 
they all fall naturally into the same great sections as the ex- 
isting forms. — We are warranted in concluding that the older 
organic creations were formed upon the same general plan as at 
present. They cannot, therefore, be correctly described as en- 
tirely different systems of nature, but should rather be viewed as 
corresponding systems, composed of different details. The dif- 
ference of these details arises mostly from minute specific dis- 
tinctions; but sometimes, especially among terrestrial plants, cer- 
tain Crustacea, and reptiles, the differences are of a more general 
nature, and it is not possible to refer the fossil tribes to any 
known recent genus, or even family. Thus we find the problem 
of the resemblance of recent and fossil organic beings to resolve 
itself into a general analogy of system, frequent agreement in 
important points, but almost universal distinction of minute 
organization."— Phillips's Guide to Geology, p. 61-63, 1834. 
