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after our likeness。〃 To think that the whole human race； its joys
and its sorrows； its virtues and its sins； its aspirations and its
failures； has been rushing out of eternity and into eternity again；
as Arjoon in the Bhagavad Gita beheld the race of men issuing from
Kreeshna's flaming mouth； and swallowed up in it again； 〃as the
crowds of insects swarm into the flame； as the homeless streams
leap down into the ocean bed；〃 in an everlasting heart…pulse whose
blood is living souls … and all that while； and ages before that
mystery began； that humble coral； unnoticed on the dark sea…floor；
has been 〃continuing as it was at the beginning；〃 and fulfilling
〃the law which cannot be broken；〃 while races and dynasties and
generations have been
〃Playing such fantastic tricks before high heaven；
As make the angels weep。〃
Yes； it is this vision of the awful permanence and perfection of
the natural world； beside the wild flux and confusion； the mad
struggles； the despairing cries of the world of spirits which man
has defiled by sin； which would at moments crush the naturalist's
heart； and make his brain swim with terror； were it not that he can
see by faith； through all the abysses and the ages； not merely
〃 Hands；
From out the darkness； shaping man；〃
but above them a living loving countenance； human and yet Divine；
and can hear a voice which said at first； 〃Let us make man in our
image；〃 and hath said since then； and says for ever and for ever；
〃Lo； I am with you alway； even to the end of the world。〃
But now； friend； who listenest； perhaps instructed； and at least
amused … if； as Professor Harvey well says； the simpler animals
represent； as in a glass； the scattered organs of the higher races；
which of your organs is represented by that 〃sca'd man's head；〃
which the Devon children more gracefully； yet with less adherence
to plain likeness； call 〃mermaid's head；〃 （12） which we picked up
just now on Paignton Sands？ Or which； again； by its more beautiful
little congener； （13） five or six of which are adhering tightly to
the slab before us； a ball covered with delicate spines of lilac
and green； and stuck over （cunning fellows！） with stripes of dead
sea…weed to serve as improvised parasols？ One cannot say that in
him we have the first type of the human skull： for the
resemblance； quaint as it is； is only sensuous and accidental； （in
the logical use of that term；） and not homological； I。E。 a lower
manifestation of the same idea。 Yet how is one tempted to say；
that this was Nature's first and lowest attempt at that use of
hollow globes of mineral for protecting soft fleshy parts； which
she afterwards developed to such perfection in the skulls of
vertebrate animals！ But even that conceit； pretty as it sounds；
will not hold good； for though Radiates similar to these were among
the earliest tenants of the abyss； yet as early as their time；
perhaps even before them； had been conceived and actualized； in the
sharks； and in Mr。 Hugh Miller's pets the old red sandstone fishes；
that very true vertebrate skull and brain； of which this is a mere
mockery。 （14） Here the whole animal； with his extraordinary
feeding mill； （for neither teeth nor jaws is a fit word for it；） is
enclosed within an ever…growing limestone castle； to the
architecture of which the Eddystone and the Crystal Palace are
bungling heaps； without arms or legs； eyes or ears； and yet
capable； in spite of his perpetual imprisonment； of walking；
feeding； and breeding； doubt it not； merrily enough。 But this
result has been attained at the expense of a complication of
structure； which has baffled all human analysis and research into
final causes。 As much concerning this most miraculous of families
as is needful to be known； and ten times more than you are likely
to understand； may be read in Harvey's 〃Sea…Side Book；〃 pp。 142…
148； … pages from which you will probably arise with a sense of the
infinity and complexity of Nature； even in what we are pleased to
call her 〃lower〃 forms； and the simplest and； as it were； easiest
forms of life。 Conceive a Crystal Palace； （for mere difference in
size； as both the naturalist and the metaphysician know； has
nothing to do with the wonder；） whereof each separate joist；
girder； and pane grows continually without altering the shape of
the whole； and you have conceived only one of the miracles embodied
in that little sea…egg； which the Creator has； as it were； to
justify to man His own immutability； furnished with a shell capable
of enduring fossil for countless ages； that we may confess Him to
have been as great when first His Spirit brooded on the deep； as He
is now and will be through all worlds to come。
But we must make haste； for the tide is rising fast； and our stone
will be restored to its eleven hours' bath； long before we have
talked over half the wonders which it holds。 Look though； ere you
retreat； at one or two more。
What is that little brown thing whom you have just taken off the
rock to which it adhered so stoutly by his sucking…foot？ A limpet？
Not at all： he is of quite a different family and structure； but；
on the whole； a limpet…like shell would suit him well enough； so he
had one given him： nevertheless； owing to certain anatomical
peculiarities； he needed one aperture more than a limpet； so one；
if you will examine； has been given him at the top of his shell。
（15） This is one instance among a thousand of the way in which a
scientific knowledge of objects must not obey； but run counter to；
the impressions of sense； and of a custom in nature which makes
this caution so necessary； namely； the repetition of the same form；
slightly modified； in totally different animals； sometimes as if to
avoid waste； （for why should not the same conception be used in two
different cases； if it will suit in both？） and sometimes （more
marvellous by far） when an organ； fully developed and useful in one
species； appears in a cognate species but feeble； useless； and； as
it were； abortive； and gradually； in species still farther removed；
dies out altogether； placed there； it would seem； at first sight；
merely to keep up the family likeness。 I am half jesting； that
cannot be the only reason； perhaps not the reason at all； but the
fact is one of the most curious； and notorious also； in comparative
anatomy。
Look； again； at those sea…slugs。 One； some three inches long； of a
bright lemon…yellow； clouded with purple； another of a dingy grey；
（16） another exquisite little creature of a pearly French White；
（17） furred all over the back with what seem arms； but are really
gills； of ringed white and grey and black。 Put that yellow one
into water； and from his head； above the eyes； arise two serrated
horns； while from the after…part of his back springs a circular
Prince…of…Wales's…feather of gills；