[ 30I ] 



this, which is fo very rare in the hitherto difcovered natural 

 knowledge of our globe, the utmoft that can be expeded is a 

 reafonable degree of probability, deduced, as the cafe may admit, 

 from more or lefs appofite analogy. If fuch analogical reafoning 

 be fairly applied, it is but juft to exped that the confequences 

 refultihg from it be "admitted, until their falfity fhall be proved, 

 or a fuperi6r degree of probability eftablifhed on different and 

 more folid gfounds. Fbr this reafon I fhall, for the prefent, 

 venture to affume as proved what I have juft now fuggefted, 

 and proceed to another link in the chain of caufes that may be 

 fuppofed to have been concerned in producing the effeds under 

 examination. 



Taking it theii for granted that the fudden difFufion of 

 lime in the water' in which thefe fifh happened to be, and its 

 Gonfequent depofitioh, ' was the immediate caufe of their enclo- 

 fure, and the origin of this curious quarry, we are next led to 

 enquire in what manner this lime may have been fo burned, 

 and fuddenly projeded into water, which but juft before was 

 proper for tlje fupport of the animiils inhabiting it. And here 

 it is fo obvious to have recourfe to fire as a proper agent for 

 the calcination of lixne-ftone, and, from the apparently rapid 

 and unexpeded projedion of the immenfe quantity which the 

 thicknefs of the ftratum indicates, to fuppofe this fire to have 

 been volcanic j that although no fufpicion had ever been enter- 

 tained of the exiftence of fuch a caufe in the neighbouring 

 country, or of its operation on the adjacent foil, this fingle cafe 

 would feem fufficient of itfelf to have excited fuch an idea. 



That 



