LI. iJ \.l A It Y 



! UNIVERSITY OF 



CALIFORNIA. 



PART IV. 



PALAEONTOLOGY. 



CHAPTER I. 



Introduction Nature of Fossil Remains Review of Animal 

 Kingdom Mode of occurrence of Fossil Remains. 



Introduction. Palaeontology may be defined as the 

 ^knowledge of fossil organisms, and of the laws which 

 regulate their occurrence in the earth's crust; an 

 acquaintance with these is of very great service to the 

 geologist, whether he be concerned with questions of 

 theoretical interest, or considering such as are of more 

 practical importance. 



No treatise on geology or geological surveying would 

 be complete without some chapters on palaeontology, for 

 It assists the observer in ascertaining the conditions 

 tinder which any bed or series of beds were deposited, 

 and in deciding many questions regarding their age and 

 mode of formation which would otherwise remain ob- 

 scure or unknown. 



As a preliminary to such investigations, it is of course 

 necessary that the palaeontologist should be well 

 acquainted with the structure and habits of the various 

 tribes, genera, and species now existing upon the globe, 



* The first three Chapters of Palaeontology are from the pen of 

 Mr. A. J. Jukes Browne, B.A., F.G.S., of H.M. Geological 

 Survey. 



