232 
Mr. W. H. Dall informs me that it occurs on the- Aleutian 
Islands, where the air is almost always saturated with 
moisture, and heavy rains fall during a large part of the 
year. With regard to the upheaval of such coasts, along 
which Guano occurs it is well known from Darwin’s investi- 
gations that the whole Pacific coast of South America is in 
constant motion and upheaval, and that “on the mainland 
near Lima, and on the adjoining island of San Lorenzo, Mr. 
Darwin found proofs that the ancient bed of the sea had 
been raised to the height of more than eighty feet above 
water, within the human epoch, strata having been dis- 
covered at that altitude, containing pieces of cotton thread 
and plaited rush, together with sea-weed and marine-shells.” 
(Lyell, Principles of Geology, 9th edition, 1853, page 502.) 
And Darwin says, “I have convincing proofs that this part of 
the continent of South America has been elevated near the 
coast at least from 300 to 500, and in some parts from 1000 
to 1800 feet, smce the epoch of existing shells.” Other 
proofs of this fact are not wanting, but these are sufficient for 
me to quote at the present time. When the portions of 
Guano which are insoluble in water and acids, is examined 
by means of the microscope, it is found to be made up of the 
skeletons of Diatomaceze, Polycystina and Sponges, invariably 
of marine origin, and sometimes identical with those living 
in the adjoining ocean, and fossilized in the adjacent Infusorial 
strata. Also we find that some of these forms occur in 
patches exactly as they grow in nature, and as they would 
present themselves if they were deposited from water, and 
not as they would be if they had to pass first through the 
alimentary canals of mollusca and similar small animals, 
then through the same organs of fish and birds, in turn, as 
they would have to do, to get into the Guano in the manner 
commonly supposed. 
I have stated, that in California we have a deposit of 
“Tnfusoria” improperly so-called, accompanied by Bitumen, 
which Bitumen the gentlemen of the State Survey, believe 
has been derived from those “ Infusoria,” and that contiguous 
thereto we have Guano deposits. Now let us see if we have 
