NEBULA TO MAN 
Though basined lands upthrust have borne away 400 
The briny waters that upon them lay, 
As Utah's salt lakes testify to-day. 
Her widened breadths a higher life now hold, 
Much more developed than in days of old. 
Her Orohippi look like horses more, 405 
Than those small equines living here before. 
And though their feet four toes and three possess, 
Yet on one toe of each foot most they press, 
And outer toes are slowly growing less. 
More varied now carnivorous beasts appear, 410 
And Cat-forms prowl as large as lions here. 
Strange forms abound : see here a Wolf-like beast 
Enjoying at river-side his turtle feast ; 
And brutes sharp toothed that swim to banks and isles 
In search, perchance, of youthful crocodiles ; 415 
As giant otters most they look to be, 
Though be the Cat tribe their fraternity. 
Huge Tapir-looking creatures here are living, 
And pigs five-toed, and less, in swamps are thriving. 
Short heavy hornless brutes too haunt the mires, 420 
And may be, by their look, Rhinoceros sires. 
On each front foot four toes they now display, 
But forms to come with three will wend their way. 
(How oft does Life, as on her voyage she sails, 
Leave wake bestrewed with toes, and teeth, and tails.) 425 
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