■ Scientific Intelligence. — Geology. 381 



of two neighbouring epochs, comparisons that shew the striking 

 relations between the changes in the flora and the fauna of dif- 

 ferent periods. Hence we conclude that there has been a gradual 

 succession of creatures, according as the circumstances proper 

 for vegetable and animal life was modified on the surface of the 

 earth ; and, admitting local debacles, we do not see any proof 

 of one or more cataclysms which could at once have destroyed 

 the vegetation of the whole earth." 



13. Boue on the relative Age of the Secondary Deposites in 

 the Alps and Carpathians. — Boue, in the first and second num- 

 bers of the Journal de Greologie, has published a very interesting 

 account of the secondary formations of the Alps and Carpathians, 

 in which we observe he differs from Messrs Murchison and 

 Sedgwick, as to the nature and geognostical situation of a parti- 

 cular deposite, viz. that of Gossan. Boue, in our opinion, de- 

 monstrates that the Gossau deposite lies below chalk, while Mur- 

 chison and Sedgwick affirm, on less extensive and less accurate 

 observation, and on rather loose reasoning, that it rests upon 

 chalk. 



14. Journal de Geologic, par MM. A. Boue, Johert, et Rozet. 

 —Of this very promising periodical, under the able guidance of 

 our former pupil Boue, and Messrs Jobert and Rozet, both 

 distinguished geologists, two numbers have appeared. Its merit, 

 independent of any recommendation from us, will secure for it 

 the approbation and support of geologists. 



15. Flint in Scotland. — True flint, as is well known, is a rare 

 mineral in the strata of this part of the island, because Chalk, 

 the formation in which it most abounds, although widely dis- 

 tributed throughout England, has not hitherto been met with 

 in Scotland. In the neighbourhood of Peterhead, however, 

 loose flints of the chalk formation occur scattered over an ex- 

 tensive primitive tract, in some places considerably above the 

 level of the sea. It is possible that, in some of the basin-shaped 

 hollows in that part of Scotland, there may occur, under the al- 

 luvium, new rocks probably of the chalk formation. My friend 

 Mr Christie of Banff, an active member of the Banff Institution, 

 .says, in a letter lately received from him, — " I see abundance 

 of flints along the shore, but whether they arc the flints of 

 the chalk formation or not I cannot say, as I can find no im- 

 pressions of organic remains in them. Perhaps they may have 



