MODE VII. MARLITE. 479 



remains. The mud and poisonous vapour, per- 

 haps of a volcanic origin, seem to have surprised 

 and destroyed these animals almost instantane- 

 ously, for most appear to struggle, and one is in 

 the act of swallowing another. 



Saussure has described similar quarries near 

 Aix, towards Lambesc, in the south of France, 

 which also present impressions of leaves of palm- 

 trees. The same great observer has added an 

 account of that of Oeningen, near the lake of 

 Constance, which first presents a thin layer of soft 

 micaceous sandstone, cemented by clay and lime ; 

 another of coarse marl and marl-slate, followed 

 by lime-slate, alternating with layers of clay. At 

 the depth of nine or ten feet appears the rock, 

 which contains the impressions ; and which is, as 

 usual, a bituminous marlite. The fish are accom- 

 panied with several insects, and leaves of trees, 

 some of which belong to warmer climates; but 

 far from being so extraordinary as those of Mount 

 Bolca, which, not to mention more recent dis- 

 co veries, presented at the time when Sajussure 

 wrote, 1795, 



27 kinds of fish of the European seas. 



39 ... of the Asiatic. 

 3 ... of the African. 

 18 ... of South America. 



