depths, as Don Ulloa has fhcwn, 2 Voy. 197. or becaufe the tem- 

 perature of the adual feas is unfit for them, as the ancient feas, 

 from the fmaller extent of the ancient continents, mufl; have 

 been much warmer, nay the number of thefe unknown (hells i$ 

 daily diminifhing. 



We may alfo remark that the loweft countries, as Brabant 

 and Holland, contain moft of them. In particular tradts of Ruflia 

 they are alfo very copious, becaufe thefe trads were longer co- 

 vered by the fea than moft other countries, as will be fhewn in a 

 future Effay. 



4^. Trees of different kinds and various vegetables have been 

 found in great depths in our modern continents, and even under 

 lofty mountains, as at Meiffcn in Heffia, and often mixed with 

 marine remains. Some parts of the earth on which thefe trees 

 grew muft therefore have been dry land, while thofe parts in 

 which the trees are found were covered by the fea, therefore the 

 retreat of the fea muft have been gradual. Many I am fenfible 

 afcribe thefe depofitions to the ravages of the univerfal deluge, 

 and in fome cafes I believe juftly, but as they are often under 

 hills or mountains, whofe ftrata are regularly difpofed, a regula- 

 rity that can fcarce be fuppofed to take place during the turbu- 

 lence of a deluge, in thefe cafes it appears their depofition muft 

 be afcribed to more tranquil caufes- 



VoL. VI. K k 5C. Trees 



