Geological Obfervations. 377 



It is little to be doubted, but that fubma- 



rine volcanos preceded not only the creation 



of animals, butalfo the feparation of dry land 



from the waters, the Mofaic expreffion, Let 



there be Light, feems to me to denote the 



confequences of thofe laws of nature to which 



vulcanos owe their origin. The fpecific 



gravity of the globe exceeds 3 or 4 times 



that of water, and confequently its proportion 



of earth is greater than that of water ; but 



at the creation the mafs of water as fpeci- 



fically lighter, lay for the mod part at the 



furface, until by the excavation of the bed 



of the ocean, and by evaporation, it made way 



for the appearance of dry land. Hence the 



interior regions of the globe, were never fo 



overwhelmed with water, but volcanos might 



be formed within them, as they are at this 



day under the lea. The flame of thefe fires 



being adapted to excite the fenfation of light, 



fufficiently authorifed Mofes to call it by that 



name, and the period during which it ex* 



ifted by that of Day^ in contradiftinction to the 



period of darknefs which preceded and fuc- 



ceeded it. Mr. Giraud de Soulavie has diftincHy 



proved the exiftence of thefe primaeval voU 



canos, in various parts of his Natural Hiftory 



of the South of France. 



Alluvial mountains are evidently of pofte- 

 nor formation, as they contain petrefacliona 



and 



