Notices respecting New Boohs. S3 5 



considerable height, have lived and died on those identical 

 spots, which in the former world constituted parts of th« 

 bottom of the ocean. 



*' 3d. That in a previous state of this planet, many spe- 

 cies of organized beings existed, which are not known to iiS, 

 in a recent state ; their havnig existed bL-ing proved, only b^ 

 the discovery of their fossil remams. 



" 4th. That the traces of very few of thoire species which 

 now exist can be discovered in the wreck of a former wond,, 



" 5th. That even in rocks of the newest formation, and 

 in alluvial strata, which are con)paratively of but modern 

 deposition, the remains of extinct animals are as frequently 

 to be found, as in what are termed transition rocks, (those 

 which are supposed to contain the first traces of organic re- 

 mains.) 



*' 6th. That there appears to have been no line of separa- 

 tion between the creation of species now extinct, and of 

 those now existing ; since not oisly the remains of extinct 

 species, but perhaps of extinct genera, are found, with the 

 remains of species very similar lo, if not exactly aereeinp 

 with, species known in a recent ^tate. 



" 7th. That many of the pebbles, found in gravel pits, 

 on the shores of rivers, and oa the sea beach, do not appear 

 to have been bowldered dow n to the form in which thev are 

 now found ; but that, on the contrary, their prcocnt forms 

 are precisely those which they, at first, derived from the si- 

 liceous impregnation of diflcrent animals, which existed in 

 the former ocean. 



" Sth. That judging from the original delicacy of struc- 

 ture in these bodies, and from the little injury which they 

 have sustained, it appears reasonable to suppose, that this 

 solidification was efl'ected, in several instances, previous to 

 the removal of the waters from their former bed." 



We cannot dismiss this work without spcakino- of the 

 plates in terms of the highest commendation. Thev are ex- 

 ecuted with uncommon care, and present pictures of the 

 various specimens coloured alter naiur^, and so faithfully, 

 that they may well answer the purpose of a collection of 

 fossils to those who are fond of this pursuit — a pursuit which 



open's 



