Actions of Volcanoes. 277 
be true, that these should have taken place without disturbing 
a previous alluvium. Thus the mixtures of the different kinds 
of remains would be accounted for, even in those cases where 
they could not be attributed to the modern action of rivers. 
Although no real instances of alternation in these alluvia 
have been brought forward, and as a true one, could not indeed 
happen, it is also easy to see that such an event might occur 
upon the same principles which have produced the alternation 
of marine and fresh water deposits in the basin of Paris, or in 
the other tertiary formations. It is equally easy to comprehend 
that, in such a case, a mind unprepared for a proper examina- 
tion of the appearances, might be led to confound together, 
things differing in their natures, and thus to throw doubt and 
confusion into that, which, if rightly examined, would present 
no real difficulty. 
It now follows that the elevation of the land of Italy, which 
is the origin of these phenomena, is to be attributed to the same 
causes which are now, or have recently been, operating in pro- 
ducing smaller changes in the relative level of the sea and land, 
and of course, in elevating the latter. These causes are con- 
nected with earthquakes and volcanoes, or are dependent on 
volcanic action. They are the same that raised Santorini from 
beneath the ocean, and that have produced the phenomena of 
the coral islands, which will shortly be described. In the his- 
tory of these, further proofs and confirmations of these views 
will be found. Of whatever date these events may be, they are 
anterior to all history ; even to that of the general deluge, if it 
is rightly judged that any of the terrestrial alluvia were depo- 
sited at that period. If a similar occurrence were to take place 
at present, it is evident, that the submarine alluvial stratum 
with all its imbedded remains, would exhibit the same appear~- 
ances as the lowest of the Italian beds does; and that the 
skeletons of whales should be found at elevations of 1200 feet 
above the level of the sea, is no more surprising than that they 
should be found at all. 
This particular fact is, however, important, as shewing the 
vertical extent of this elevation, just as the geography of the 
