[ 2 6o ] 



agitation of the waters, or were crumbled to pieces by earth- 

 quakes, and varioufly difperfcd through the ocean, or thefe ma» 

 terials were ejedled in immenfe heated maffes, by fubmarine vol- 

 canos into the bofom of the waves, to be by them farther com- 

 minuted, difintegrated or decompofcd. 



The various folids thus difFufed at different periods of time 

 through the vaft body of the ocean muft have been gradually pre- 

 cipitated and depofited on fuch folid maifes as refifted the pro- 

 greflive motion impreffed upon the precipitating maffes by that 

 tumultuous element; hence they applied to and refled on the 

 low lateral furfaces of many of the mofl confiderable primary 

 mountains, or were accumulated on the fcabrous but firmly 

 rooted fragments of fuch of thofe mountains as were before de- 

 ftroyed, intombing the fhell-fifli that adhered to or refted upon 

 thefe fragments, and arrefting by their initial foftnefs the various 

 funk woods and other vegetable or animal fubftances as chanced 

 to be mixed with thefe precipitating maffes, or were fubfequently 

 borne upon them. Trees naturally affumed the fituation that 

 afforded leaft refiflance to the currents that conveyed them, and 

 hence the uniformity that has been obferved very frequently in 

 their pofition. Thefe depofitions, when during their defcent they 

 attained a certain degree of denfity, muft have proved fatal to 

 the various fpecies of fifh which were involved in them, and hence 

 the origin of the more folid pifcine remains at prefent found in 

 them ; the fofter parts being deftroyed by putrifadion, in this 



manner. 



