1825.) 
the brain, and not from the organs of 
the cerebrum. Now, with the upper 
parts of the cranium, the cerebellum is 
not in contact; and as nothing can act, 
where it is not, no protuberance, inter- 
nal or external, can be produced. We 
say internal or external, for one of the 
principia of the theory has never been 
demonstrated ;—namely, as to whether 
the external mark of development 
always concurs with the internal deve- 
lopment of the organs of the brain, 
whether of the cerebrum or cerebellum. 
The lecturer appeals to fact. Now, 
this assumption, in many cases, is con- 
tradicted by fact; the outward convewi- 
ties of skulls which we have seen, not 
being accompanied (as they would, if 
the basis of the theory were true) by 
inward. concavities, of the same exactly- 
corresponding proportions, but the con- 
trary. The presumed conformity, where 
it exists, is, at all events, indecisive and 
irregular. 
———aa——— 
‘To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir: 
T a time when so much curiosity 
prevails concerning the fossil re- 
-mains and petrifactions, that at present 
engage so large a share of the attention 
of geologists, it is interesting to find 
that the justly-celebrated Baron Cuvier 
-has concluded his grand work, in five 
-quarto volumes, to which he has given 
the unassuming title— Inquiries con- 
cerning Fossil Bones, tending to restore 
the Characters of many Animals, the Spe- 
_cies of which have been destroyed by the 
Revolutions of the World.” The book 
has been briefly reviewed by Count 
Lacépéde, likewise a member of the 
-Institute; who compliments his illus- 
trious associate on the completion of 
.a magnificent pyramid, on which, aided 
by the light of comparative anatomy, 
he has inscribed the proportions and 
lineaments of fossil organic remains. 
In an introductory discourse, the Baron 
declared his object—the difficulties he 
had surmounted, the success he had 
met with—the method he had followed 
in promulgating and establishing his 
discoveries — the consequences that 
might be deduced from the fact of the 
existence in soils, more or less ancient, 
of sea, or fresh water, or land animals, 
and the strong affinities these have with 
the catastrophe of the world, and with 
those grand changes wrought upon the 
surface of the earth by the violence of 
the sea, by volcanoes, and by other 
Cuvier’s Fossil Remains. 
4.03 
natural agencies, or by the gentle and 
regular action of salt and fresh water. 
In his first volume, Baron Cuvier 
gives exact and complete descriptions 
of various fossilated remains that have 
been found, diligently comparing them 
with the existing species, and with the 
laws of nature, in the conformation and 
correspondence of animal structure. 
In the first part of the second volume, 
the author gives a description of all 
those animal remains that have been 
recovered from the bosom of the earth ; 
and enters into full details, proving the 
rigid justice of his restorations, pre- 
ceded by an extensive and exact state- 
ment of the distinctive characteristics 
of the present rhinoceros; and here 
finishes that part of his subject which 
relates to thick-skinned animals (Pachy- 
dermes). But wishing, afterwards, to add 
precision to his observations, and im- 
portance to his reflections, and to state 
his geological deductions more clearly, 
and in a-manner less obnoxious to dis- 
putation, M. Cuvier exhibits, in order, 
the different strata (couches), placed 
one above the other, in secondary and 
teftiary soils, in which the fossils, of 
which he writes, are found. He takes, 
for example, the soils found round 
Paris, and which form the basis and 
the banks of that basin that contains 
the Seine, the Marne, the Oise, and’ 
many other rivers, and which stretches. 
towards Beauvais, Compiégne, and Sois- 
sons, to Htampes and Fontainebleau, 
and towards Mantes and Gisors to 
Nogent-sur-Seine and Chéteau-Thierry. 
This basin he particularly investigated, 
in company with his able and worthy 
fellow-labourer, M. A. Brongniart, of 
the Royal Academy of Sciences. Lists 
and descriptions of the different earths, 
which appear to succeed the marine 
chalk (craie marine), the first presented 
to our notice, are given; above this the 
Baron meets with fresh water, and then 
points out plastic clay (argile), and pe- 
trified wood (lignite). He then finds a 
coarse calcareous earth (calcaire gros- 
sier), accompanied by layers of shells. 
(grés coquillers) ; and points out that 
oceanic convulsion, which has re- 
deluged the clay and petrified wood. 
Flinty calcareous earth shows itself 
above these sea-formed stones (grés 
marins), and the coarse earth above- 
mentioned ; and above this, what seems 
most prevalent, is gypsum, a later fresh- 
water deposit. Imbedded in this gyp- 
sum, the author’s piercing eyes disco- 
3F2 vered 
