mpanied by others, which are indubitably 1 
reason, that they exist in too great abundance, and too 
stantly in the same strata, to have been fluviatile, and acc 
dentally introduced. Now some of these Unios, so cakes 
which are also found in the oolite, and the lias, are also founs 
in the coal formation; and as it is so probable that the shells 
of the oolite are marine, we have, I think, very slender 
grounds for calling those found in the coal formation, fluviatile, 
e formation of chalk is characterized by the amily of 
Lichinites.. The quantity of fossil remains of this family 
alone, is certainly equal to that of all the other species found in 
it. ‘Thus also the Ostrea deltoidea is the most characteristic 
shell in the oolite formation ; whilst in the red marl, we nev- 
er find a single fossil remain, and, whilst the gypsum, Je 
pse G ossemens, in the vicinity of Paris, owes its name to 
the quantity of organic remains it contains. I might multi- 
ply examples, if I did not suppose, I had already cited a suf- 
ficient number. We will then turn our attention to another 
question which I deem of considerable importance. Is there 
any constant connexion between the antiquity of strata, 
and the similarity or dissimilarity of their contained fossils, 
compared with existin imals ? 
The more ancient are any strata, that is, the more ancient 
the formation with which they are connected, the greater 
will be the AO of the fossil remains they contain, t 
the earth. : 
The primitive formation of the Granite ; not yet alter- 
nating with gneiss; complete in its constituent parts; un- 
stratified ; abounding in quartz; fine grained; destitute of 
minerals which are foreign to its primitive comp tion ; 
without subordinate beds of primitive limestone ;—the prim- 
Sie ea liately succeeding the a a 
neissoid granite, granite intermediary between gneiss an 
it slate; mica slate, clay slate, &c, forming along with 
Vou. XV.—No. 1. 14 
