108 ORGANIC REMAINS, 
Few facts are more remarkable in the history 
of the progress of human discovery, than that it 
should have been reserved almost entirely for 
the researches of the present generation, to arrive 
at any certain knowledge of the existence of 
the numerous extinct races of animals, which 
occupied the surface of our planet, in ages pre- 
ceding the creation of man. The rapid progress, 
which during the last half century, has been 
made in the physical sciences, enables us now 
to enter into the history of Fossil Organic Re- 
mains, in a manner which, till within a very 
few years, would have been quite impracticable ; 
during these years the anatomy of extinct species 
of Quadrupeds has been most extensively investi- 
posed : thus a Polype, or an Oyster, are as perfectly adapted to 
their functions at the bottom of the sea, as the wings of the 
Eagle are perfect, as organs of rapid passage through the air, 
and the feet of the stag perfect, in regard to their functions of 
effecting swift locomotion upon the land. 
Unusual deviations from ordinary structure appear monstrosities 
only, until considered with reference to their peculiar use, but 
are proved to be instruments of perfect contrivance, when we 
understand the nature of the service to which they are applied : 
thus ; the beak of the Cross Bill (Loxia curvirostra, Linn.) would 
be an awkward instrument if applied to the ordinary service of 
the beaks of the Passerine Order, to which this bird belongs ; 
but viewed in relation to its peculiar function of extracting seeds 
from between the indurated scales of Fir cones, it is at once seen 
to be an instrument of perfect adaptation to its intended work. 
The Perfection of an organized Body is usually considered to 
be in proportion to the Variety and compound Nature of its 
parts, as the imperfection is usually considered to be in the 
Ratio of its Simplicity. 
