[ *S5 ] 



lower chain certainly abounds in them. Fichtel alfo remarks 

 that ftill higher on the mountains of Terglore no petrifadions 

 are found imbodied, Mineral Aufsatz, p. 4. 



After this elevated tracSl of the globe had been uncovered, 

 there is no reafon to fuppofe that it long remained diveftcd of 

 vegetables or unpeopled by animals, being in every refpedt fitted 

 to receive them. The fevere degree of cold which at prefent 

 diftreffes thefe countries during the winter months is folely 

 owing to their diftance from and elevation over the adual feas 

 (as 1 have elfcwhere fhewn), circumfiances that did not exift 

 at this period. 



That the retreat of the fea from the lower parts of our pre- 

 fent continents was gradual and not fully effeded until after 

 the lapfe of feveral centuries many reafons induce us to be- 

 lieve. 1°. Both fides of the Altaifchan platform exhibit fe- 

 condary mountains (fo I call all thofe which contain marine fhells 

 or other remains of animal or vegetable fubftances between their 

 ftrata, or incorporated in the rocks or ftones of which they con- 

 fift) both of the calcareous and argillitic kind, in which marine 

 ftiells abound, Reno v. 75, thefe therefore muft have been formed 

 before the fea had receded far from thefe parts, and muft have 

 been the work of many years. 



2do. Not only in every region of Europe but alfo of both the 

 old and new continents, whofe fituation is inferior to that above- 

 mentioned, 



