188 Outlines of Geology, 



call it the lowest marine formation. It is covered by a bed of gyp- 

 sum, and by one of marie, enclosing a very remarkable series of 

 organic remains, among which we may particularly notice, petri- 

 fied wood of the palm kind, and the relics of shells and of fishes 

 apparently of fresh water species. But, in the gypsum, are abund- 

 ant remains of amphibious animals, and birds, including the bones 

 of an extinct species, varying in size from a sheep to a horse ; 

 there are also the bones of an unknown species of dog, fox, and 

 ichneumon ; the bones of the pelican, starling, and quail tribes ; 

 of the crocodile and tortoise ; and of several varieties of fish 

 allied to the present species that inhabit fresh water. 



Above these beds, the contents of which are thus miscellaneous 

 and remarkable, and which are sujjposed to bear traces of fresh 

 water deposition, we find two beds of oyster-shells, one of which 

 exactly resembles in the appearance of the shells, and in their 

 disposition, those which are usually found in the ocean ; the 

 greater number of them are whole, and have both valves ; they 

 alternate with sand and sandstone, and are covered by a deposit 

 of limestone, containing fresh water and land shells, nearly all of 

 which belong to the genera now living in morasses ; lastly, we 

 come to the uppermost deposit, containing rounded stones and 

 pebbles in a mixture of sand and clay, and abounding in the fossil 

 remains of large trees, with the bones of elephants, oxen, deer, 

 and other large animals *. 



That low and level countries, in general, exhibit the same ex- 

 traordinary records of devastation and change appears probable 

 from various geological investigations that have been made in 

 several parts of Europe, more especially in France and Germany; 

 and in some districts of North America, which have been geolo- 

 gically explored, similar evidence of analagous changes is not 

 wanting. 



We may now revert to the strata lying upon the chalk in the 

 Isle of Wight, in order to examine a little more particularly ihe 

 circumstances under which they appear to have been deposited ; 



* Fide Cuvif R and ^rongnurt. 



