IS] 4.] Analyses of Books, 143 



Article XII. 



Analyses of Books, / 



Hisay on the Theory of the Earth. Translated from the French 

 vf M. Ciivier, Perpetual Secretary of the Frmch Institute, Pi-o- 

 .J'essor and Administrator of the Museum of Natural History, 

 &c. &c. By Robert KenfP. R. S. & F. A.^S. E. With ^l^ne- 

 ralogical Notes, and an Account of Cui'iers Geological Discoveries', 

 hy Professor Jameson. Edinburgh, Blackwood. London, Mur- 

 ray, Baldwin. 1813. 



This is the most entertaining geological book which has hitherto 

 fallen into my hands. The view whicli it gives of the subject 

 possesses a great deal of novelty ; it is supported by documents 

 which leave no doubt respecting the accuracy of the most import- 

 ant positions. The author has been long kno\\ n as a comparative 

 anatomist of accuracy and learning. He has turned his pursuits 

 into a new channel, and, by uncommon industry joined to great 

 sagacity, and the fortunate situation in which he was placed, has 

 been enabled to demonstrate the existence of the fossil remains of 

 many animals which have disappeared from the earth at a period 

 anterior to the most ancient historv. 



Tiie rocks, which constitute the highest and most extensive 

 cliains of mountains upon the earth's surface, contain no animal 

 remains. Hence they must have been formed before our planet 

 was inhabited by vegetables or animals. But as these rocks are 

 composed of beds placed in the most various and dislocated state 

 with respect to eacli other, Cuvier considers it as clear that their 

 jjosition has been altered since their original formation, and that 

 they have been elevated by some unknown agent from a consider- 

 able depth to ther present lofty position. In this ojiinion he agrees 

 with tjaussure, who, in an examination of the Alps, which was 

 conducted with unwearied industry for a period of twenty vears, 

 pointed out the various positions of the beds, and endeavoured to de- 

 monstrate that they must have been elevated from a great depth. 



In lower levels we find beds which have a more horizontal direc- 

 tion, and in which the remains of animals and vegetables may be 

 traced. These remaiiis belong at first to the lowest orders of ani- 

 mals and vegetables, but as we proceed downwards to lower and 

 luwer levels, we find the remains of more perfect animals ; till at 

 hit, id the newest beds of all, we find tlrj boiKS of animals, the 

 species of which still exist upon the earth. 



'i'lie great merit of Cuvii-r, as a geologist, consists in liIs exami- 

 nation of the fossil bones of quadrupeds, which exist in such abuiid- 

 at*ce in different beds, and at great distances from «ach other. 

 He has a«;cerfained and cias'^ilied the fossil remains of 7^ different 

 ^pecies ol (juadiupods iu the \iviparuus and oviparous classes. 



