DOMAIN XI. DECOMPOSED. 233 



side of the lake of Lucerne, is entirely of 

 pudding-stone, and is 742 toises in height, 

 measured from the level of the lake. By 

 the descriptions given of it, as well as of 

 other hills of the same kind in Swisserland, 

 we may, without due attention, be led to 

 suppose that they are entirely formed of 

 loose gravel. Even M. Saussure's descrip- 

 tion is chargeable with this fault ; though, 

 when attended to, it will be found to con- 

 tain a sufficient proof that this hill is com- 

 posed of real pudding-stone. The nature 

 of the thing also, would be sufficient to 

 convince us that a hill, more than 4000 

 feet in height, could not consist of loose 

 and unconsolidated materials. 



" If then we regard Mount Rigi as the 

 remains of a body of pudding-stone strata, 

 we must conclude that these strata were 

 mginally more extensive; and the adja- 

 cent valleys and plains will serve, in some 

 legree, to measure the quantity of them 

 vhich time has destroyed/'* 



* Playfair, 373. 



