WRITINGS OF JAMES SMITHSO'N. 109" 



still afforded, after their interment, sufficient gas for the 

 supposed purpose. From some experiments, made a great 

 number of years ago, on the decay of animal muscle con- 

 fined over mercury, I am inclined to believe, that in no 

 case, when secluded from oxygen, is any great volume of 

 gas evolved by it. Subjected to the imagined pressure, 

 would the matters of the gases have been able to expand to 

 the elastic form ? Would they not rather have assumed 

 the fluid one ? 



Under these circumstances, would the muscular part of 

 the bodies have entirely disappeared ? Would not some 

 portion of it have altered to adipocire ? In such a state 

 some of it must at least some times be met with. 



That fish have, in some cases, been inclosed in strata, in- 

 vested with all their muscular part, seems indubitable, from 

 the presence of the scales ; but they are scattered singly 

 through the stratum, and have blown up no caves round 

 themselves. 



Indeed, the clustering of the quadrupeds during their 

 voyage, appears to be by no means a certain event. If they 

 sunk below the surface, they would sink to different levels ; 

 borne on the surface, they might assemble together, but no 

 adherence would take place between them, and upon the 

 slightest impulse they would part again. 



If the bodies were deposited with their integuments, the 

 bones must be nearly all of them entire. How should they 

 have become broken, enveloped in a soft mass, rendered 

 additionally elastic by the gases of a putrefying state, and 

 floating on a sea which, high above all land, bore them out 

 of the reach of every means of concussion, especially be- 

 come shivered as are of those of the cave ? The force 

 which could thus destroy the bones, had reduced the mus- 

 cular matter to pulp, and the waters had carried it off, and 

 the cave had had no efficient cause. 



If the bodies were deposited entire, every bone of each 

 must be forth coming, and its complete skeleton admit of 

 being mounted. 



