out by experience? But, finally, if Natural Selection be thus gifted with the power of continually acting for the good of its subject, -encouraging it, or rather compelling it to continual advancement, Αἰεὶ ἀριστεύειν καὶ ὑπέρμορον ἔμμεναι ἄλλων, how is this beneficent personification to be separated from an ever watchful providence; which once brought into view sheds a new light over the whole picture of causes and effects? It may be thought that, while professing to keep to the old and safe method of reasoning on known causes and ascertained effects, we deviate from this principle in regard to the origin of life, and introduce an unknown cause for phenomena not understood, by calling to our aid an act of 'creation.' Be it so, let the word stand for a confession of our ignorance of the way in which the governing mind has in this case acted upon matter; we are equally ignorant in every other instance which brings us face to face with the idea of forces not manifested in acts. We see the stream of life flowing onward in a determined course, in harmony with the recognized forces of nature, and yielding a great amount of enjoyment, and a wonderful diversity of beautiful and instructive phenomena, in which MIND speaks to mind. Life through many long periods has been manifested in a countless host of varying structures, all circumscribed by one general plan, each appointed to a definite place, and limited to an appointed duration. On the whole the earth has been thus more and more covered by the associated life of plants and animals, filling all habitable space with beings capable of enjoying their own existence or ministering to the enjoyment of others; till finally, after long preparation, a being was created capable of the wonderful power of measuring and weighing all the world of matter and space which surrounds him, of treasuring up the past history of all the forms of life, and of considering his own relation to the whole. When he surveys this vast and co-ordinated system, and inquires into its history and origin, can he be at a loss to decide whether it be a work of Divine thought and wisdom, or the fortunate offspring of a few atoms of matter, warmed by the anima mundi, a spark of electricity, or an accidental ray of sunshine INDEX. A. Australian Life compared to the Stonesfield Fossils, 171. Axis of earth, change of, 160. B. Barrande, species of fossils detected Bat, affinity of the, 30; hooked finger, 43. Birds, Struthious, 23; fossil, 118. Brachiopoda, 23, 91. Bray Fossils, 70. Brodie, Fossil Insects, 117. Bryozoa, 29. Buffon on the germs of life, 182. Butomus umbellatus, 20. Cacteaceæ, 144. C. Cambro-Silurian Life, 212-214. Caradoc formation, 73. Carnivora in relation to Herbivora, 8. Acorus calamus, 20. Acrogens, 27. Actinia, 32. Agassiz on constancy of specific forms, 193. Aire, Yorkshire river, 48. Algæ, 27. Alisma plantago, 20. American Flora, richness of, 13. Amiens and Abbeville, flint instru- ments found at, 48. Ammonites sublævis, 100. distribution of, 102. Amorphozoa, 85. Animals collected in four great Brongniart on carboniferous Flora, 7. groups, 27. Annelida, 89. Anomia, 32. Anonaceæ, 145. Anstice, Mr, discoveries at Coalbrook Antiquity of the Earth, 119. Aptenodytes, propulsive organs of,35. Araucariæ, 144. Aristotle's classification of Nature, 25. Astacidæ distinct from Palinurus, 35. Atmosphere supplies gaseous ele- Carpenter's description of Terebra- tulæ, 92. Cassowary, the, 24. Cataclysms, 178. Catarhine Quadrumana, 14. Caulopteris, 144. Daubeny, experiments on plants, 7. Dawson, Dr, fossil tree found by, 116. Development theory, 188, 208. Dillwyn, his remarks on siphonosto- Dimyaria, 94, 212. Diving movements in animals, 35. Dytiscus, propulsive organs, 35. E. Echinodermata, 29, 86. Edentata, fossil and recent, 171. Enaliosaurians, 8. Equiseta, 145. Equisetaceæ, 27. Eyes, structure of, 9, 10. F. Falconidæ, steering tails, 39. Filices, 27. Fishes, earliest traces of, 103. Flotation of the marine races, 32. Forbes, Edward, Ægean researches, Freshwater Life, 108. |