^4 Mr Fournet's Researches on the Geology of the Alps. 



and began tearing the muscles of the thigh ; it actually laid 

 open a considerable space before the poor animal was aroused 

 by the pain, and started up with a howl of agony. The 

 wound was dressed, but the dog soon died. — The Birds of 

 Jamaica^ by Philip Henry Gorse, p. 1. 



Series of Researches on the Geology of that part of the Alps 

 lying between the Valais and Oisans. By M. FOURNET. 



In 1841, M. Fournet published in the Annates de la Societe 

 d* Agriculture de Lyon, vol. iv., two memoirs on the Geology of 

 that part of the Alps comprised between the Valais and Oisans. 

 It is a grand and interesting subject of study ; but M. Four- 

 net had scarcely entered, so to speak, into the matter, his at- 

 tention being hitherto directed to general considerations. 

 He indicates four systems of elevation (soulevement) which 

 have crossed each oj:her in the Alps ; 1^^, The system of the 

 Rhine ; 2d^ System of Mont Viso, running from NW., to 

 SE. ; Zd, System of Western Alps, lying from NNE. to SSW. ; 

 4 /A, System of the Valais, directed from ENE. to WSW. 

 The author then passed to a description of the rocks of plu- 

 tonic origin, which are so numerous and varied in the Alps. 

 He divides them into four groups ; Isty Micaceous rocks ; 

 2c/, Serpentine-talc, or Magnesian rocks ; 3c/, Porphyritic 

 rocks ; 4M, Pyroxenic rocks. 



In this description of the rocks, he has entered upon inte- 

 resting researches. We would mention more particularly 

 those on the origin of agates (agathes) and zeolites, which he 

 went to study at Oberstein in the Palatinate, in order to un- 

 derstand better the glandular rocks of the Alps. 



M. Fournet has published a continuation of these two me- 

 moirs. He treats of a higher subject, namely, the study of 

 the modifications produced on sedimentary rocks by the vi- 

 cinity of rocks of igneous origin. He considers not only the 

 metamorphisms which have taken place on a small scale ; 

 but also the modifications undergone by the whole sediment- 

 ary rocks of the Alps. For a long time the necessity has 

 been felt of treating certain branches of Geology chemically, 



