XXII 
INTRODUCTION. 
Chemistry and Physiology, with ceaseless energy, try hard to bridge 
over this gulf; but, as yet, they have been unable to find foundation 
or foothold for a single pillar of their structure. Analysis makes 
giant strides: slower, with anxious delays, retracing its steps, and, 
again pushing forwards, follows the science of the doctrine of life. 
The first understands well how to analyse and separate the elements 
from their various combinations, but fails to discover the magic spell 
which should compel the scattered atoms to reunite in a life¬ 
awakening bond: it vanquishes the bond itself, but is defeated by 
each of its component parts; and natural philosophy, though called 
to their assistance, can afford no help. This great triple alliance 
proves and watches each expression and working of life; and, though 
hoarding its hard-won treasures, yet cannot purchase the explanation. 
Life is being: the “ How ? ” will ever remain inexplicable. 
We can safely state, then, that we still remain ignorant of the 
causes of the creation. Nevertheless, it is certainly not useless to 
learn the scheme which speculative human intellect has built up, in 
order to explain, if not that creative energy, at least, the course of the 
creation. A few words from our gifted Reiclienbach would not be 
amiss here :—“ A cursory glance at the development of organisms, in 
our time, will probably convince us that in the early stages of creation 
she had her fixed laws, which, through the course of ages, have ever 
been practised, and which she has founded on none other than an 
appropriate basis; and that before the appearance of plants and 
animals she certainly first created their germs; so, too, before the 
appearance of birds she first made their eggs. 
“ Just as Oology is the mother of Ornithology, so must we also 
remember that in the generative principle, which guides all true 
contemplation of Nature, the lower ever precedes the higher; and 
thus we are far from wishing to assume the probability of such 
prototypes as the Eagles, Parrots, and Peacocks, being the precursors 
in bird creation, but are much more inclined to hold the opinion that 
the first weak essays of bird nature were half bird, half fish-like 
forms, similar to the Penguin, subsequent to the former creation of 
fish and amphibious animals. Inasmuch as in all classes and orders 
the imperfect takes precedence in an all-wise economy, pioneering 
the road for the perfect, so it might happen that these Penguins 
occupied at this period slightly elevated coasts: and thus, when in 
these days we find remains of bones only in the most recent strata of 
