a Theory of the Eut'lh. 1 89 



cf tlie time that has elapfed fince thefe organifed heingswere 

 •<lepo&ted in the bofom or at the furfacc of the earth. 



3. The nature of the obje6ls by which they are accom- 

 panied ; fuch as fand, gravel, flints : whether angular or 

 round ; whether there are ftxmd in their neighbourhood 

 other veftiges of organifed bodies *. 



4. Their nature. Whether they are lying in their natural 

 pofition, or reverfed, and turned upfide down, fo as to afford 

 reafon to conclude that they died on the fpots which they 

 now occupy ; or whether they have been tranfported thither 

 by fome violent and irregular movement : whether, for ex- 

 ample, the fliells have the fame attitude as in the bofom of 

 the fea, the univalves on their mouth, and tlie bivalves oa 

 the valve that is Icaft convex. 



5. Whether they are in families, as in ftagnant waters ; 

 or, on the conirary, thrown together in an irregular manner. 



6. Whether all thefe circumftances are the fame throucrh- 



o 



out the whole extent of the fame bank ; in the contiguous 

 banks of the fame lands, and the fame mountains, and in 

 thofe of the neighbourhood. 



7. To afcertain whether fofTil fliells are found in the moft 

 ancient mountains, and not in thofe o' a more recent forma- 

 tion ; and thus to clafs, if poffible, the relative ages and 

 epochs of the apparition of the different fpecits, 



8. To compare exaftly the bones, fliells, and foflil plants 

 with the living plants analogous to them; and thus to af- 

 certain the truth of the affertion of JVIichaeJis, that the foflil 

 bones of quadrupeds (fuch as the eleph-int, rhinoceros, 

 oxen, and Hags,) have not an cxatSt releniblance to thofe 

 which are found at preftnt alive. 



9. If they are really ditferent, to determine whether thefe 

 differences are not varieties, or whether they charadterife 

 fpecies. . ' 



10. Whether, on the other hand, their identity is con- 



• To pay p-inicular dtttniiou to thol'i: of fuch orijanilcd bodies ae may 

 be found in thu real veins. C. 



firmed 



