EXTINCT ANIMALS 



of the Gulf of Naples. This has been celebrated 

 for something like eighty years, ever since Mr. 

 Babbage carefully examined and described it, 

 and thus caused it to be largely visited by 

 geologists. In common with most geologists, 

 I have had the pleasure of visiting it. The 

 three standing columns have marks of dis- 

 coloration up to a certain height. The lower 

 part, as shown in the diagram (Fig. 20), is 

 full of little holes in which tiny sea creatures 

 have burrowed holes in which there are small 

 shells. This is so defined that it is certain these 

 columns have stood in sea water up to that 

 line. The evidence of that is quite complete. 

 These columns formed part of a Temple or 

 public palace in the great Roman town of 

 Puteoli, which had in front of it a Roman road 

 along by the sea-shore. Between the temple 

 and the sea was the road. Now in Roman 

 times that temple stood complete and very 

 much in the same position relatively to the sea- 

 level that it does to-day, but rather higher up. 

 Mr. Giinther, of Oxford, examining the shore- 

 line carefully, has found covered over by the 

 sea the remains of the Roman road, and the 

 remains of great blocks to which ships were 



34 



