404 
vered mouldering remains, from which 
he has re-formed many kinds of ani- 
mals, no longer existing upon earth; 
to which he has, also, given names, and 
assigned ranks in the chain of organized 
being. Hence the Baron reverts to 
the analysis of those earths, that com- 
pose the surface of that grand asin, in 
whose centre stands the proud city of 
Paris. The sea breaks in afresh; it 
resumes its empire over rocks, and 
sands, and gypsum, rich with geological 
treasures: it retires, and fresh-water 
lakes, marshes, streamlets, rivers, suc- 
ceed its troubled waves: whence the 
deposits, marl, and hard stone (meu- 
liéres), upon which, soon or late, allu- 
wion (deposited soil) is formed. Baron 
Cuvier’s second volume includes the 
learned researches of M. A. Brongniart 
(before-named) respecting the sea chalk 
of France, England, and manyother coun- 
tries ; and the clays and petrifactions of 
France, England, Switzerland, Ger- 
many, Western Europe, and North 
America: with the earths analogous to 
the coast chalk formation, in England, 
France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, the 
Northern and Western parts of Europe, 
and other earths bearing much relation to 
gypsum, and containing broken crum- 
bling bones; in fine, he treats of quar- 
ries, marls, slimy sediments (atterrise- 
mens simoneux J, rolling flints, and strata 
(products of fresh-water), superior to 
the coarse chalk in Hungary, Germany, 
Switzerland, Mount Jura, Italy, Spain, 
France, and England. The fourth vo- 
lume is given up to osteological discus- 
sions concerning the family of ruminat- 
ing animals, and the most remarkable 
differences presented by the various 
species into which this family is divided. 
It is according to these well-known cha- 
racteristics that the gigantic stags found 
in Great Britain, in Ireland, and the 
neighbouring isles; and others resem- 
bling the rein-deer, and found near 
Etampes (department of Seine and 
Oise), and the cavern of Breugne’ (de- 
partment of Lot), are arranged. 
The Baron afterwards makes mention 
of gigantic trunks (bois), or bony horns, 
more or less branching, dug up in the 
valley of the Somme, in Germany, or in 
Scania (Schonen, province of Sweden, 
in Gothland) ; and other dones found in 
peat, or sand-pits, belonging to a species 
of roe-buck, little differing from the 
last ; and to stags resembling those that 
now exist in our forests; and of other 
fossils, some of which are referred to 
Cwvier’s Fossil Remains. 
[June I, 
the genus auroch, others ‘to oxen 
much larger than those domesticated 
in Europe; and others to the musk-ox 
of Canada. After this more general 
description, the species of ruminating 
animals, particularly stags, and others, 
as lions or tigers, panthers and Jago- 
mies, are particularized ; bones of which 
are found in the fissures of the rocks 
about Gibraltar, in Arragon, Sardinia, 
Cette, Sicily, the Veronais, and Dal- 
matia, 
- From the consideration of these bony 
fissures, where are found vestiges of 
animals analogous to those which now 
seek the hottest climes, mixed with 
others, as the /agomies, analogous to 
the mammiferous inhabitants of more 
northern temperatures, the author turns 
to the examination of bones found in 
immense subterranean caverns: pre- 
facing the determination of these species 
by an exact analysis of the teeth, and 
other parts of the skeletons of many 
carnivorous animals, and plantigrades : 
great bears, tigers, lions, hyenas, mixed, 
pell-mell, not only with bones of the 
elephant, rhinoceros, and hippopotamus, 
but also with those of gluttons ; and, per- 
severing in his method of verification, dis- 
tributes these according to their genera. 
To these numerous results are added ac- 
counts of many reptiles (rongeurs) found 
in vast caverns, and fossil beavers (cas- 
tors) in peat, or other soils. Very cu- 
rious notices of various toothless mam- 
mifere follow, and the zoological rank 
of that great megalonyx, the discovery 
of whose bones, in a cave in Virginia, 
West, was made known by M. Jeffer- 
son, one of the illuminati of North 
America, is determined upon principles 
of probable comparison. ‘The fifth vo- 
lume concludes with a description and 
classification of fossils, mammiferous, 
marine and fresh-water, andj particu- 
larly those singular remains that have 
been found in various departments, 
districts and countries. Reflecting on 
the numerous facts discovered or col- 
lected by M. le Baron Cuvier, what 
thoughts, what consequences, what con- 
tingencies rush upon the mind, and ele- 
vate the faculties to the contemplation 
of the grandeur that pervades the globe. 
The Count concludes by announcing 
his intention, shortly, to publish a work 
on the First Ages of the world. 
Supposing, Sir, that the interest of 
the subject would be a sufficient excuse 
for troubling you with the foregoing 
sketch, I am, &c. THERMEs. 
POLICE 
