188 SINGULAR OPINIONS OF THE ANCIENTS. 



not fail to notice them, but they were sadly puzzled to 

 account for the origin of these remains. Some sup- 

 posed them to have grown, in an extraordinary way, in 

 the places where they were found ; while others described 

 them as resulting from a plastic power with which they 

 considered nature to be endowed. Such theories were 

 not merely adopted to solve the difficulty as to animal 

 fossils, but even the vegetable forms of bituminous 

 wood were gravely traced to tendencies to such forma- 

 tions in the bitumen ! 



Another idea was, that a certain fatty matter, made 

 to ferment by heat, gave rise to fossil organic shapes ; 

 and Fallopio of Padua not only imagined that petrified 

 shells arose from fermentation, but also, that certain 

 curious antique vases dug up at Monte Testaceo, near 

 Rome, were natural impressions stamped in the soil ! 

 It is well to know that such errors have prevailed, 

 as a check to that confidence which we are prone 

 to repose in distinguished men. How plain is it, that 

 even those reputed to be wise, may become chargeable 

 with gross folly ! 



It should not be forgotten that the natives of our own 

 island have often displayed their ignorant superstition. 

 Alluding to some of their notions, one of our poets says, 

 that the nuns of Whitby — 



