of European Rocks. 553 



other that would better answer the purpose of relieving us 

 from the old theoretical terms, I cannot but imagine that the 

 science would derive benefit from the change. 



In the accompanying Table, rocks are first divided into 

 stratified and unstratified, a natural division, or at all events 

 one convenient for practical purposes, independent of the 

 theoretical opinions that may be connected with each of 

 these two great classes of rocks. The same may perhaps 

 also be said of the next great division; viz. that of the 

 stratified rocks into superior or fossiliferous, and inferior or 

 ron-fossiliferous. The superior stratified or fossiliferous 

 rocks are divided into groups, nearly the same as those which 

 I published in the -Annates des Sciences Katurelles for August 

 last. I have myself found them useful in practice, more parr 

 ticularly in the examination of districts distant from each 

 other. 



Stratified Rocks.— Group 1 . (Alluvial) seems at first sight 

 natural and easily determined ; but in practice it is often very 

 difficult to say where it commences. When we take into con- 

 sideration the great depth of many ravines and gorges which 

 appear to originate in the cutting power of existing rivers, 

 the cliffs even of the hardest rOcks which more or less bound 

 any extent of coast, and the immense accumulations of com- 

 paratively modern land, as for instance, those great flats 

 on the western side of South America, there is a diffi- 

 culty in referring these phsenomena to the duration of a com- 

 paratively short period of time. Geologically speaking, the 

 epoch is recent; but, according to our general ideas of time, 

 it appears to be one that reaches back far beyond the dates 

 Usually assigned to the present order of things. Man and the 

 monkey tribe seem to be the most marked new creation of this 

 epoch. I would by no means be supposed to deny that they 

 may not have previously existed, but at present the mass of 

 evidence is against their prior appearance. There seems, 

 indeed, no good reason why man and the monkeys should not 

 have lived as well as the bears and hyaenas at periods ante- 

 cedent to this epoch ; but until the remains of the two former 

 be found in rocks proved to be formed previous to this period, 

 it cannot be affirmed that they did*. The animals now exist- 

 ing, considered as a mass, appear to differ specifically from 

 those whose remains are found entombed in the various rocks, 



* Should such observations as those lately made on the caverns of the 

 department of the Gard by JV1. de Christol [Annates flea Vines 1829) be 

 multiplied, and should it be alu ays shown that human bones and pottery 

 are, as is stated to be the ca>e, in' these caverns, really Of the same date as 

 the hyama's bone*, dung, &c. with which they are mixed,— we can scarcely 

 refuse to admit, that man existed previous to the alluvial epoch ; supposing' 

 it in all <;i -.(■', pinved, that these cavern remains are of the same oat 

 those considered of the diluvial period. 



V 



