‘ 
214 Renew of “ Outlines of the 
osited by successive inundations of salt and fresh water. 
he fresh water formations consist of marle, argillaceous 
limestone and sand, traversed by veins of calcareous spar ; 
but they want the gypsum beds, so numerous in these 
formations around Paris, and in which are found the 
nes of unknown birds and quadrupeds. 
The London Clay is an extensive formation in England, 
and it is made up principally of a tough, bluish, or blackish 
clay, occasionally marly, and embracing septaria, and beds 
of sa 
ate probably, to the well known Calcaire grossier of 
_ Paris. “The organic remains in this formation are ex- 
tremely interesting : among these are the crocodile, turtle, 
at a place near Grignon in France, found 500 species of 
shells in this formation. Among Mr. Crowe’s specimens, 
are many which appear to have belonged to tropical cli- 
mate 
The Plastic Clay Formation is * composed of an indefinite 
number of sand, clay, and pebble beds, irregularly alterna- 
ting.” It embraces a few layers of coal, fuller’s earth, 
some shells, teeth of fish, vegetable remains, and it is said, 
also, fossil bones. We have already suggested that this 
formation not improbably exists in Martha’s Vineyard, and 
in several other islands along the coast of N ew-England. 
_ Tue Sypermepiat Orper comes next in the descend- 
ig series’; and comprehends the chalk, Beds between the 
halk and Oolitic Series, the Oolitic Series, and the forma- 
tions between the Lias and the 1 Strata. These dis- 
tinct groups of strata have many general relations and 
der, they are all lapidified. The account of this order oc- 
Gee nearly three fifths of the volume under considera- 
Chalk Formation.—This lies - immediately beneath the 
Plastic Clay : but a bed of debris, made - of rounded 
7 
