these facts thus developed, concerning the anithe primitive, or ante-diluvian world, it might be supposed that some theory could be formed spect to the proportions of the different genera, en inhabited the earth, and by a comparison of th the genera now existing, we should be enabled e difference. But it would be premature to form othesis on this subject at present, since we know there are hundreds of extinct species still undis 66 r has proved, as we shall see directly, that the species of quadrupeds are not varieties of those existence, but that there exist distinct specific es between them. A species," says he, com1 the individuals which descend from one another, common parents, and those which resemble each much as they resemble themselves." Hence eties of a species are the result merely of such as take place in the color, size, and fineness of f animals, and which may be caused by a differclimate, of food, or the domestication of the spcese varieties may therefore produce the exact liketheir parents. For example, the dog is a gepointer is one species, and the grayhound is anNow, every one who is conversant with dogs, at pointers may differ from each other in color, shape, and even from the same parents it is seltwo precisely similar can be found. These are of the pointer, but the species are not changed, instincts, habits, and general appearance are the th those of their parents. The same variations observed in the grayhound, and, indeed, all other f dogs. But if the races are kept distinct, there ircumstances of climate, or keeping, that will he grayhound into the pointer, or the pointer into hound. The species are therefore entirely distinct angeable. fox and the wolf," says Cuvier, "inhabit every From the icy to the torrid zone; they experience mmense interval every change of climate and , and yet the species have suffered no other han a slight variation in the beauty of their fur. e accurate observer compared the sculls of foxes north of Europe and from Egypt, with those of France, b we learn th time and c case." Means ceeding to a scribe the by examini unknown a living. T and labori degree o others. The pri is the pect so that on another, an a whole, o correspond a reciproca without a each taker rest. Thus if digest only vouring i teeth for organs of gans of se brain mu concealm the gene every ani for other For th kind of a and fits cles, for less. T must be neck, an bræ, and cles are ce, but found no appreciable differences. Hence arn that the species of animals are not changed by and circumstances, as some have thought to be the eans of distinguishing Fossil Bones. Before pro ng to individual fossil species, it is necessary to dee the method by which naturalists have been enabled, xamining their petrified bones, to distinguish these own animals from each other, and from those now g. This art, or science, originated with the acute laborious Baron Cuvier, and by him was brought to gree of perfection, to which little has been added by S. he principle on which this discrimination is founded, e peculiar, and perfect organization of each species, hat one part is invariably, and exactly adapted to her, and is indicated by it. Each animal constitutes hole, one systematic cycle, whose parts are in mutual espondence, and concur to the same definite action, by ciprocal re-action. None of these parts can change out a symmetrical change in the others; and hence I taken by itself, indicates and gives form to all the hus if the organs of an animal are so constituted as to st only raw flesh, its jaws must be constructed for deing its prey; its claws for seizing and tearing it; its for cutting and dividing it; the entire system of its uns of motion for pursuing and overtaking it; its ors of sense for descrying it at a distance; and even its n must be qualified for exercising the instinct of selfcealment, and the art to ensnare its victim. Such is general condition of the carnivorous temperament; y animal endowed with which, must combine them all, otherwise its race could not subsist. or the jaw to seize its prey there must be a certain d of articulation, which gives prominence to the cheeks, fits the bones to receive the insertion of strong mus =, for without these any such articulation would be use To enable the animal to carry off its prey, there st be a certain degree of strength in the muscles of the k, and hence results a determinate form in the verte and the hind nant of the head to which these mus. hoever will compare the bones of a cat with those of obit, will see how these parts differ, and if he will the subject, he will soon convince himself, why bones of the rabbit, independently of the teeth, could have been fitted for the purpose of a rapacious an prey, hat the claws may seize the there must be a cermobility in the talons, and a certain degree of strength e toe joints, and thence there must result a corresing distribution of muscles, and tendons, so that ness and power may be combined. The shoulder s in such animals must have great firmness, otherthe legs will not be fitted for the uses of the claws, this firmness of bone is thus prepared to receive the tion of strong muscles, by which the required power ven. is unnecessary to show how the other parts of a ling animal are adapted to each other, so that the e machinery of bones, muscles, joints and tendons, ombine to the accomplishment of the same end. The of any animal, are indeed a collection of wonders," e who does not behold in them the traces of Infinite lom and design, must either want understanding or n a word," says Cuvier, "the formation of the tooth ates the structure of the jaw, and its kind of articu; the structure of the shoulder bone, shows the form e feet, just as the equation of a curve, involves all its erties; and as by assuming each property separately e base of a particular equation, we should re-proboth the ordinary equation, and all its properties; so ails and shoulder blade indicate the articulation of tw; the thigh bone, and the other bones, taken sepa7, give the form of the tooth, or are given by it in turn. nce the mechanism of every animal involves certain and invariable principles and proportions which be to the whole race, by ascertaining what these are, an readily distinguish one tribe or species from ano though the differences may be ever so slight. To most common observer, the entire skeleton of a horse d be distinguished from that of an ox, by the size and ortions of the whole; and by comparing the thigh of the two animals he would readily distinguish , and thus take one step in comparative anatomy, for he would be able to distinguish a horse from an ox, ly by inspecting a single bone. is plain, from this example, that by the constant exation of the bones of different classes, genera, and speof animals, the observer might attain to great peron in this art, so that even without comparison, he d be able to decide in an instant, whether a given belonged to any living genera of animals or not, and closer care and comparison, to point out those differs which distinguish the osteology of one species from of another. re the species supposed to be extinct, varieties of living Ees? This question has already been noticed, but we ld be more particular on a point of so much impore in geology. Of the 150 fossil species, about ninety said to be extinct: that is, they are not known to exist e living state, at the present time. Among these is mastodon, or mammoth, the bones of which have been d in many places in this country. This is an examof an extinct species. It is not found alive in any part e world, nor docs it belong to any species of animals vn to exist. If such an animal was still living, even ng the most barbarous tribes, there can be little ot, but some information concerning it, would have ■given, at least to one among those individuals, who, in the last few years, have explored most of the beunknown regions, in nearly every part of the world. at the whole race of mastodons are extinct, therefore, e can be no doubt. Nor can there be any question this animal was a distinct species from the elephant, ch it most resembled. This is proved by the size and n of its bones, and especially by its tusks and grinders, y of which have been compared with those of the hant now living, and the specific differences pointed t has been supposed by some naturalists, that more or of the unknown fossil species might still exist in parts he globe which have not yet been explored; but alugh it may be possible that some of the smaller of se animals may still be living, there is little probability of the says Baron Cuvier, we examine what species of peds have recently been found, and in what circumthey have been discovered, we shall see that there little hope of ever finding those that we have only s fossils. Islands, of moderate extent, situated at a e from extensive continents, have very few quad, and these always of small size. When they have ones, it is because they have been brought from elseBouganville, and Cook, found only dogs and hogs South Sea Islands, and the largest species of the Indies, was the agouti, (a species of the hare.) In aly large territories, such as Asia, Africa, the two cas, and New Holland, have large quadrupeds, and lly, species peculiar to themselves.' here remained any extensive countries to discover, ght hope to find new species, among which some be found, more or less resembling those of which wels of the earth have preserved us relics, but it is ent to cast a glance over the map of the world, and e numerous directions in which navigators have ned the ocean, to judge that there cannot be any unered large tract of country still remaining. ancients were acquainted with nearly all the aniow known, except such as have been discovered in ca and New Holland. The Greeks were acquainth the elephant, and the double and single horned eros, and both these animals were common at Rome. abalus exhibited the hippopotamus, and the giraffe heleopard: and the two species of camel were to the Romans in the time of Julius Cæsar. The ‚ the wild ox, the ox without horns, and the little ox, ger than a goat, the sheep with the great tail, and eat sheep of India, were all known to the ancients, y have left descriptions of them. Romans exhibited lions, panthers, and tigers, by ndred; they also showed hyenas, and even the croof the Nile. Even the zebra also, which is found n southern Africa, graced their shows, and they vell acquainted with the most remarkable species ape tribe. ese facts show, that the ancients were acquainted 11 the animals of any size or consequence, in the orld, and that naturalists, in later times, although ave reduced zoology to a science, and have describ ed many to the Gre quadruped those of A It is qui quadruped tinct, are been show varieties of entire race trophe. When, a and in strat age. The was that u seen still r no certain p esis will ac respect to t any other s It is pr various pla of with feath with four |