Moving away from his earlier belief in a short, catastrophic history of the Earth, this volume shows how Buckland envisages instead progressive change as the Earth gradually cooled as it was prepared for human occupation. Extinct creatures did not die out because they were poorly designed; God loved the dinosaurs and had adapted them to their various circumstances.

VOLUME I: I. Extent of the Province of Geology II. Consistency of Geological Discoveries with Sacred History III. Proper subjects of Geological Inquiry IV. Relation of Unstratified to Stratified Rocks V. Volcanic Rocks, Basalt, and Trap VI. Primary stratified Rocks VII. Strata of the Transition Series VIII. Strata of the Secondary IX. Strata of the Tertiary Series X. Relations of the Earth and its Inhabitants to Man XI. Supposed cases of Fossil Human Bones XII. General History of Fossil Organic Remains XIII. Aggregate of Animal Enjoyment increased, and that of Pain diminished by the existence of Carnivorous IX Strata of the Secondary Series X. Relations of the Earth and its Inhabitants to Man XI. Supposed cases of Fossil Human Bones XII. General History of Fossil Organic Remains XIII. Aggregate of Animal Enjoyment increased, and that of Pain diminished by the existence of Carnivorous Races XIV. Proofs of Design in the Structure of Fossil Vertebrated Animals CHAP. XV. Proofs of Design in the Fossil Remains of Mollusks CHAP. XVI. Proofs of Design in the Structure of Fossil Articulated Animals XVII. Proofs of Design in the Structure of Fossil Radiated Animals, or Zoophytes CHAP. XVIII. Proofs of Design in the Structure of Fossil Vegetables