J. C. Doornik on Fossil Organic Remains. 7T 



formation of our globe, he insisted, ought also to embrace an 

 extensive collection of organic remains, both of vegetables and 

 animals. Neither did he neglect, at the same time, to make 

 mention of the numerous researches and discoveries relating 

 to those caverns which contained large quantities of animal re- 

 mains. 



Werner also insisted much upon the observation, made, if I 

 mistake not, by M. Lister, more than one hundred and fifty 

 years ago, that the different formations were capable of being 

 distinguished by means of the fossil remains they contained ; 

 and also, that these relics were first apparent in the transition- 

 class, though in a very small proportion ; and belonged only la 

 the class of zoophytes and testaceous animals. Thus he ex- 

 plained, most decidedly, the antiquity of the m.arine and terres- 

 trial animals ; maintaining that the first possessed the most an- 

 cient origin. 



It was when pursuing these Investigations, and engaged in 

 the study of the genera and species of organic remains, that, 

 with his customary sagacity, he remarked, how widely those 

 species differ, which are the products of more ancient rocksy 

 from such as exist at the present day ; and, on the contrary, 

 how closely those species which occur in the most recent forma- 

 tions approach to existing animals. 



To conclude : Here is another observation of Werner, by 

 which it is proved, beyond a doubt, that he attached a high im- 

 portance to these studies. He insisted upon the observation, 

 that many fossil species are limited to particular rocks, while 

 others, on the contrary, possess a wider distribution ; these last 

 appearing to have enjoyed an organization, which enabled them 

 to live during a variety of changes, which exterminated those 

 found only in particular rocks. 



My profound veneration for the high merits of Werner has 

 occasioned the foregoing remarks, and which, I trust, have been 

 made with propriety. 



The following observations by Professor Jameson, in the 

 fourth edition of Cuvier's Theory of the Earth, led to the 

 preceding remarks. 



