110 ORGANIC REMAINS, 
creation of the human race, can with a high 
degree of probability be ascertained. 
Concurrent with this rapid extension of our 
knowledge of the comparative anatomy of extinct 
families of the ancient inhabitants of the earth, 
has been the attention paid to fossil Conchology ; 
a subject of vast importance in investigating the 
records of the changes that have occurred upon 
the surface of our globe. 
Still more recently, the study of botanists has 
been directed to the History of fossil vegetables ; 
and although, from the late hour at which this 
subject has been taken up, our knowledge of 
fossil plants is much in arrear of the progress 
made in Anatomy and Conchology, we have 
already a mass of most important evidence, 
showing the occurrence of a series of changes in 
vegetable life, coextensive and contemporaneous 
with those that have pervaded both the higher 
and lower orders of the animal kingdom. 
The study of Organic Remains indeed, forms 
the peculiar feature and basis of modern Geology, 
and is the main cause of the progress this 
science has made, since the commencement of 
the present century. We find certain families 
of Organic Remains pervading strata of every 
age, under nearly the same generic forms which 
they present among existing organizations.* 
■ * e. g. The Nautilus, Echinus, Terebratula, and various forms 
of Corals; and among Plants, the Ferns, Lycopodiacese, and 
Palms. 
