French Katlonal Tnsliiute, 31 1 



which covers the whole, abounds in fresh-water shells. It 

 is only in the bottoms of valleys, or rather in the cavities 

 of this superficial stratum, that we find the bones of ele- 

 phants and other animals whose species we know, but 

 whose genera we are not yet aequainled with. 



It results, therefore, from tbe observaiions of Messrs. 

 Cuvier and Brongniart, that the sea, after having for a 

 long period covered France, and having; several limes 

 changed the inhabitants and the nature of the soil, gave 

 way to a temporary deluge of fresh water, during which 

 ■chalk was deposited ; but the dcUige having returned, at least 

 a second time, seems to have destroyed the beings which 

 had been propagated : at this period the palceotherhim and 

 the anoplotliermm must have disappeared. Every thing 

 tends to render it probable that this deluge made its ap- 

 pearance a third time, and on this oceaaitjn perhaps the 

 elephants disappeared. 



By similar investigations in other countries, we may be 

 enabled to determine if there be any thing general in the 

 arrangement of the strata, and ol^ the organized bodies 

 which they contain ; and we may thereby succeed in fixing 

 our ideas on the succession of the catat-trophes which have 

 brought the surface of our globe into the state in which it 

 now is. 



M. Sage has given u-s some analyses and descriptions of 

 certain stxmes, such as chalccd;)ny, common agate, and 

 that kind of volcanic stone called gaestein : he has also 

 communicated some experiments on the cohesion which 

 lime contracts with various sub&t.nices, — experiments which 

 will he useful in ascertaining the composition of various 

 mortar. 



M. Brochant, mining engineer, has communicated some 

 observations relative to strata much more antienl than those 

 in the environs t)f Faris, and which M. Werner has de- 

 Kignaied by the name of soils of trans'uion, because they 

 arc placed between those primitive niouniains anterior to 

 organization, and those secondary strata filled with the bones 

 oi animals. Most of them are composed of fragments of 

 primitive soils united together like [luddinii-siones by va- 

 rious cements, and here and there we now begin to find 

 remains of animal and vegetable organizations. 



Saussure had alreadv noticed ihise soils in ihc Alps; 

 but M. Brochant determines them uith more precision and 

 follows them more into detail, ehielly along the Alps on 

 the side of France. 



M. Lescalier; the maritime prefect of Genoa, has con- 

 U 4 sidercd 



