41 



In that vast moss of marble, which is common to the 

 bottom of the Adriatic, and the neighbouring provinces 

 toward the east, are a multitude of marine bodies petri- 

 fied ; some of which are so united to the stony sub- 

 stance, that they are scarce to be distinguished. Like- 

 wise a crust is discovered under the \vaters in divers 

 places, and for a great extent, which is a composition of 

 crustaceous and testaceous bodies, and beds of polypi 

 of different kinds, confusedly blended with earth, sand, 

 and gravel. 



These different bodies, which enter into the composi- 

 tion of this crust, are at the depth of a foot or more en- 

 tirely petrified and reduced into marble. At less than 

 the depth of a foot they approach nearer to their na- 

 tural state. And at the surface of this crust, they are 

 either dead, though extremely well preserved, or still 

 living. 



This demonstrates that stones may be formed- from 

 things petrified, and actually are formed, in great quan- 

 tities, under the water. Crustaceous and testaceous bo- 

 dies, and polypi, are every where mingled in the utmost 

 confusion, which shews a striking resemblance between 

 the crust discovered under the sea, and the marine bo- 

 dies petrified in many parts under the earth. 



The more these crustaceous and testaceous bodies 

 and beds of polypi multiply, the more their exuvia, and 

 skeletons, contribute to enlarge this crust. In several 

 parts it forms very considerable banks, and of a very 

 great thickness. 



It follows that the bottom of the sea is rising con- 

 stantly higher and higher. Divers other causes contri- 

 bute to this ; snow and rain, and waters that bring down 

 from the mountains, into the sea, a great quantity of 

 earth and stones. The waves beating against the conti- 

 nent and islands, detach many masses which are spread 

 upon the bottom of the s?a. The rivers carry the mud 

 with their waters into the sea, at the bottom of which 

 that mud deposits itself, 



From the rising of the bottom of the sea, that of the 

 level of the water naturally follows. So at Venice, in 

 Istria, and in Dalmatia, the level of the waters is several 



