Ragnarok : the age of fire and gravel

v4 THE COMET.

“This entire ex-terrestrial fauna hitherto discovered, which already comprises about fifty different species, and which originates from different meteoric falls, even from some during the last century, conveys the impression that it doubtlessly once formed part of @ single ex-terrestrialcelestial body with a unique creation, which in by-gone ages seems to have been overtaken by a grand catastrophe, during which it was broken up into fragments.” *

When we remember that meteors are now generally believed to be the droppings of comets, we come very near to proof of the supposition that comets are the debris of exploded planets ; for only on planets can we suppose that life existed, for there was required, for the growth of these sponges, corals, and crinoids, rocks, earth, water, seas or lakes, atmosphere, sunshine, and a range of temperature between the degree of cold where life is frozen up and the degree of heat in which it is burned up: hence, these meteors must be fragments of bodies possessing earth-like conditions.

We know that the heavenly bodies are formed of the same materials as our globe.

Dana says :

“Meteorie stones exemplify the same chemical and crystallographic laws as the rocks of the earth, and have afforded no new element or principle of any kind.” ¢

It may be presumed, therefore, that the granite crust of the exploded globe from which some comet was created was the source of the finely triturated material which we know as clay.

But the clays are of different colors—white, yellow, red, and blue.

* “Popular Science Monthly,” November, 1831, p. 86. + “Manual of Geology,” p. 3.