Actions of Volcanoes. 271 
subject, has decided that there is not one, but that they are all 
marine species. His testimony cannot be suspected of any 
bias, as he has no geological theory to serve, and has indeed 
committed this very error himself in the case of the petrified 
fishes of Oeningen. Among the remainder, Volta decides, ge- 
nerally mistaking either the genera or the species or both, that 
twenty-seven are European fishes, and thirty-nine Asiatic; that 
three belong to the African coast, eighteen to South America, 
and eleven to North America. Blainville very properly doubts 
this determination, on ichthyological grounds ; and there need be 
no hesitation in saying that, on geological ones, itis impossible. 
If the theory of Italy which I have to propose be correct, 
these should all be fishes that either reside now, or did once 
reside, in the Mediterranean ; as there may be lost fishes as 
well as lost terrestrial animals. Accordingly, it is remarkable, 
that nearly all those which are so perfect as to admit of no 
dispute respecting their characters, are Mediterranean fish at 
present. Many specimens are so imperfect that it is impossi- 
ble to decide on them; and Blainville, who is by no means 
wanting in good will towards the formation of species and 
genera out of imperfect fragments, has reduced the 105 to about 
90. It is most evident, that a great part, even of this number, 
is founded on the most random conjectures. But enough of 
Monte Bolca. 
Besides the more common marine fossils, there are found the 
bones of whales and dolphins; and even entire skeletons of 
this nature have been discovered at elevations of 1200 feet above 
the sea. It is further remarkable, that the bones of the whales 
have been found incrusted with oyster-shells, and that they, 
are almost always in a state of high preservation; a proof that 
they have not been brought from a distance, and a farther one 
that these are not transported alluvia. 
The terrestrial remains are generally found a few feet beneath 
the surface, and are therefore commonly in the sand or gravel, 
or in the upper bed; but as that bed is occasionally absent, 
they also occur in the marl. They consist of the bones of the 
hippopotamus, elephant, rhinoceros, mastodon, urus, and elk, 
