OF THE ORGANIC FOSSILS. 429 



geologists have intruded too fur into this branch 

 of natural history, led on from the earlier fossils, and 

 thus must they torment every fact to suit some geo- 

 logical hypothesis. In Cuvier, and in more recent 

 writings on this subject, the reader will find the zoo- 

 logical details which do not belong to a work of the 

 present nature. 



Geology however is interested in inquiring into the 

 causes of these disappearances, though probably less 

 concerned in them than some visionary writers have 

 thought. In such cases as those of the lias, the 

 solution is, obviously, to be sought in early peculia- 

 rities of the earth's surface. It is also easy to under- 

 stand how animals should have been destroyed by 

 such partial revolutions as those of Italy; as that 

 may explain some facts of this nature respecting the 

 basin of Paris, presuming, that this has undergone 

 similar or analogous elevations. It is plain also, that 

 no such change could have taken place in Italy, with- 

 out affecting, perhaps all Europe, and even much more, 

 in the neighbouring continent ; since far inferior 

 occurrences of this nature in South America have 

 produced wide destruction : while it would not be a 

 very extravagant supposition that the elevation of the 

 Paris basin, that of the Isle of Wight, perhaps of 

 Auvergne, and probably of other spots yet to be dis- 

 covered, were all connected with this great partial 

 revolution, in some manner, though it is not necessary 

 that it should be limited to one short period. I for- 

 bore to suggest this formerly, lest I should alarm the 

 reader with too many novel suggestions at once: but 

 if true, it is the explanation of the loss of species and 

 genera both, as, even in a more limited manner, it might 

 have produced either, inasmuch as many animals are 

 limited in extent of residence. Such a catastrophe in 



