100 Observations Concerning Fossil Organic Remains. 
can be formed at the same time and in the same place. Ge- 
ology has made us acquainted with a series of formations of 
quite a different nature, and whose characters are sufficient- 
ly — - prove to us that they belong to epochs decided- 
ly differe 
. _ The 2 Ga the alpine limestone, the ani with 
ite are rocks whose nature is very different, and I cannot 
believe that any one would wish to defend the idea that ‘hts 
rocks could have been formed in the same moment and in 
the same place, whilst every thing announces to us, that they 
belong not only to epochs but to periods widely remote. 
Truly, by paigrtar fi such a doctrine, we run the hazard of 
confoun omena in such a manner, as, 
that ial we see lose ot tgs which alone can conduct 
that in which the earth was, when it recovered itself after the 
last great catastrophe: a period continues, but this period is 
divisible into many epochs which are truly distinct from each 
other. It is true that the organic remains contained in the 
newer formations, possess all those characters which are 
common to the tribes now occupying the face of the earth; 
but it does not follow from thence, that since the srgeme re- 
mains possess a similar character, ‘that different strata t 
rded as belo 
to be regai to the same ep: rmation. 
I allow they may belong to the same period, but not to the 
same active volcanos, belong t 
sh. M o the pe 
in which we live, but not to the epoch; and that they do not, 
is. obvious from their ejected matters. For it is ascertained 
that lavas of the same volcanos, differ at different epochs ; 
pieced Froth conceive that volcanic products, evolved 
| of thousands of years would differ from each 
otlven aa i that they ae evince by this difference, the dis- 
tance of the = which separate them. The differences, 
then among v: olcanic products, are so many proofs that they 
tiara oo — epochs. Organic remains may 
aaa. of ‘different “eee tes art chs. widely remote. 
Since the peed, successive to the last great catastrophes tive 
have not interfered with the existence of genera of me oe 
