336 PETRIFACTIONS AND THEIR TEACHINGS. CHAP. III. 



mined the principal specimens of the terrestrial plants and 

 animals of the Wealden formation of the south-east of England, 

 that are contained in the British Museum, and I will conclude 

 this section of the present chapter with some general remarks 

 on the physical geography, and the nature of the fauna and 

 flora, of the Country inhabited by the stupendous reptiles, 

 whose fossil remains have so long engaged our attention. 



From the nature of the alluvial sediments accumulated in 

 the lapse of innumerable ages in the deltas and estuaries, 

 which now constitute a great part of the area of the south- 

 east of England, and of the north of Germany, a general idea 

 may be obtained of the aspect of the country through which 

 the river flowed, and the character of the superficial strata ; 

 and from the fossil remains we may learn the nature of the 

 trees and plants which clothed its soil, and of the animals 

 that roamed over the land, or inhabited the waters. 



Whether that country were an Island or a Continent can- 

 not be determined; but that it was diversified by hills and 

 valleys, and irrigated by streams and rivers, and enjoyed a 

 climate of a higher temperature than any part of modern 

 Europe, is most evident. Coniferous trees in all probability 

 clothed its alpine regions ; palms, arborescent ferns, and cyca- 

 deous plants, constituted the groves and forests of its plains 

 and valleys; and in its fens and marshes the equisetacese, 

 and plants of a like nature, prevailed. That the soil was of 

 a sandy character on the hills and elevated grounds, and 

 argillaceous in the plains and marshes, may be inferred 

 from the vegetable remains, and the materials in which 

 they are imbedded. Sands and clays every where prevail 

 throughout the Wealden formation, and have probably resulted 

 from the decomposition of micaceous and felspathic rocks. 



Some inferences also may be drawn as to the prevailing 

 atmospheric condition of the country, from the undulated 

 surfaces of the laminated sandstones and shales, and from the 

 stems of the fossil trees. In the former we have proof, that 

 when the land of the Iguanodon existed, the water was rippled 

 by the breezes which then, as now, varied in intensity and 

 direction in a brief space : from the latter we learn that in 

 certain situations the wind blew from a particular quarter 

 for a great part of the year, and that the mean annual tempe- 

 rature was as variable as in modern times. 





