302 ON THE ELAVATED SUBMARINE ALLUVIA 



numerous marine objects, consisting of shells and 

 fishes; but these are far more abundant in the marl 

 than in the sand ; while very extensive tracts of alluvia 

 are found without any. The shells are said to be 

 sometimes similar in both beds; but it is important 

 to remark, that, where they abound, they are found 

 associated in families; a proof that they have not 

 been transported, but tbat they now lie where they 

 were originally produced. Some of these animals 

 are admitted to exist in the present seas of Italy, 

 while others are supposed to be exotic or else un- 

 known; but a great deal of obscurity has been intro- 

 duced into this latter part of the subject by Volta 

 and others; partly from ignorance of this branch of 

 natural history, and partly from the theory to which 

 they thought it necessary to make every thing con- 

 form. It is essential to observe, that the shells often 

 retain the ligaments, and the fishes their animal 

 matter; a proof of the suddenness by which they 

 have been elevated above the waters and dried. Nor 

 is it less important, that, among these, are found a 

 far greater number of species analogous to and iden- 

 tical with existing ones, than even in the other strata 

 which follow the chalk. Out of 240, there are 139, 

 according to Brocchi, of this description; a fact which 

 assists in indicating a date for these deposits, probably 

 more recent than those of some other tertiary form- 

 ations, and depending on a separate and local cause. 



Besides these more common marine remains, there 

 are found the bones of whales and dolphins ; and even 

 entire skeletons of this nature have been discovered 

 at elevations of 1200 feet above the sea. It is further 

 remarkable, that the bones of the whales have been 

 found incrusted with oyster shells, and that they are 

 almost always in a state of high preservation ; a proof 



