HARMONY OF ORGANISATIONS. 
199 
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 preceding 
the creation of man. . . . 
“We can hardly imagine any stronger proof of the unity 
of design and harmony of organisations that have ever 
pervaded all animated nature, than we find in the fact 
established by Cuvier, that from the character of a single 
limb, and even of a single tooth or bone, the form and pro¬ 
portions of the other bones, and condition of the entire 
animal, may be inferred. This law prevails no less 
universally throughout the existing kingdoms of animated 
races, than in those various races of extinct creatures that 
have preceded the present tenants of our planet; hence, 
not only the framework of the fossil skeleton of an extinct 
animal, but also the character of the muscles by which each 
bone was moved, the external form and figure of the body, 
the food, and habits, and haunts, and mode of life of crea¬ 
tures that ceased to exist before the creation of the human 
race, can with a high degree of probability be ascertained. 
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 commence¬ 
ment 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 
organisations. Other families, both of animals and vege¬ 
tables, are limited to particular formations, there being 
certain points where entire groups ceased to exist and were 
replaced by others of a different character. The changes 
of genera and species are still more frequent; hence it has 
been well observed, that to attempt an investigation of the 
structure and revolutions of the earth, without applying 
minute attention to the evidences afforded by organic 
remains, would be no less absurd than to undertake to 
write the history of any ancient people, without reference to 
the documents afforded by their medals and inscriptions, 
their monuments, and the ruins of their cities and temples. 
The secrets of Nature, that are revealed to us by the history 
