348 THE GEOLOGY OF THE ALPS. [XIV. 



He then proceeds to explain his view that the crystalline schists, 

 the dolomites, and the serpentines have been deposited as such, or 

 have only undergone a subsequent molecular change, such as I have 

 described on pages 300 and 305 of the present volume. It is grati- 

 fying to record such testimony to the views I have so long advo- 

 cated, from the learned geologist of Geneva, who has devoted his 

 life to the study of what is generally regarded as the classic region 

 of rock-metamorphism. 



The dip of the strata of the whole section of the Mont Cenis Tun- 

 nel is, according to Sismonda and Elie de Beaumont, to the north- 

 west, but, according to Favre and to Fillet, the carboniferous rocks at 

 Modane dip to the southward, suggesting (what might here be looked 

 for), a want of conformity between the crystalline and uncrystal- 

 line series. The ancient views of Elie de Beaumont and of Sismonda, 

 according to whom the anthraciferous rocks of this region belong to 

 a single great series of Jurassic age, which includes at the same time 

 crystalline schists, a carboniferous flora, a Jurassic fauna, and num- 

 mulitic beds, appear to be still maintained by these geologists, and 

 are set forth by De Beaumont in a communication to the French 

 Academy of Science, in 1871, on the rocks of the Mont Cenis Tun- 

 nel. The publication of this in the Comptes Rendus called forth 

 an energetic protest from Fillet in behalf of the Academy of Sci- 

 ences of Savoy, in December, 1871. He there complains of the 

 persistent maintenance of views which he declares to have been set 

 aside by the labors of Favre and others, as shown in the work re- 

 viewed above, and adds : " The opening of the Mont Cenis Tunnel 

 might have been expected to put an end to the discussion, since we 

 see at St. Andre", near Modane, the primitive granitic rock overlaid 

 by the coal formation with anthracite, by the trias, and by the 

 liassic schists with belemnites, all placed in their normal order and 

 succession."] 



Favre's letter to me, written in February, 1872, may be compared Gumbel's 

 conclusions, cited in a note to page 305, from his letter to me, also written 

 early in 1872. 



