1821.] and adjoining Parts of the Continent. 451 



occur in these same elevated regions, much difficulty exists, and 

 much error prevails, which it w^ill be my object to endeavour to 

 di) away. 



The term transition (for example) is applied by many of the 

 -first geologists of the Continent to a class of alpine rocks of the 

 same age with those which in England are justly considered 

 secondary, and which constitute the new red sandstone, or red 

 rock marl formation, of the English ^'eologists ; and the alpine 

 limestones which have been supposed to have pretensions to high 

 antiquity will be found on closer examination to be contempora- 

 neous with the magnesian limestone, and oolite formations of 

 England, and consequently more recent than our great coal for- 

 mation and mountain limestone; with which latter its name, 

 external aspect, and elevated position, would at first seem to 

 associate it. It will be found moreover that the mountain lime- 

 stone and great coal formation of England do not occur in the 

 Alps. 



The tertiary formations also constituting the molasse and 

 nagelflue of the Great Valley of Switzerland have been mistaken 

 for the new red sandstone beds of England. 



The causes of these mistakes I shall point out, and endeavour 

 to do away ; they consist partly in the enlarged bulk, and partly 

 in the want of distinct features, and of tangible character, which 

 accompany all secondary strata as they enter the Alps. 



I shall hope, however, to prove their identity with English 

 formations by the evidence of actual sections ; and to show that 

 a constant and regular order of succession prevails in the alpine 

 and transalpine districts, and generally over the Continent, and 

 that this order is the same that exists in our own country. But 

 though referrible to the same system, and coeval in point of time, 

 and conformable with respect to their relative order of succes- 

 sion, the formations of England and the Alps are much disguised 

 by local circumstances, and present widely varying features, the 

 extremes of which it would be impossible to identity without the 

 fortunate interposition of certain connecting links that are equally 

 related to, and partake equally of, the characters of them both. 



The most remarkable anomaly is the total absence of the 

 English mountain lime and coal formations ; while ouroohte and 

 magnesian hmestones (under the name of alpine limestones) rise 

 unto the most elevated crests and pinnacles that crown the sum- 

 jnits of this gigantic chain. The following are among the 

 greatest heights which they occasionally attain : 



Feet. 



Ortler, inTyrol 14,466 



Jungfrau, in Switzerland 12,872 



Dbdi Berg, in ditto 10,059 



Tiltis 10,000 



Diableretz 8,240 



Dent de Morcle 7,600 



2f2 



