OF FOSSILS. 237 



that fucceffivc ages have wrought upon the fur- 

 lace of the earth ; and they difclofc to us what 

 animals inhabit the deep abyfles of the ocean, 

 and many other circumllances moft worthy the 

 attention and enquiry of philofophy. 



5 LXII. I'olcumc Productions. 



THOSE burnt Jubilances thrown out from the 

 mouths of volcunos, by a greater or icfs degree 

 of fubtcrrnncous fire, Croniledt has thought fit 

 to arrange in a third appendix. A general view 

 of them no doubt would be ufeful ; but there, 

 arc not wanting many rcaions why, in my opi- 

 nion, volcanic productions will not admit of a 

 feparate clarification. We know there arc ma- 

 ny who lircmioufly fupport the hypothcii*, that 

 the whole foflii kingdom owes its origin to fire ; 

 ibrfuch as thcfe, therefore, any diihnclion will 

 be unncccflury. We have learned ali'o, that 

 marks burned by lire into foilils are gradually 

 obliterated by the injuries of time; becoming 

 fir (I obfcure, thru equivocal, and at, length be- 

 ing wluilly dcllroycd. Whatever limits, there- 

 fore may be drawn, they are in their very na- 

 ture trunfient and perilhablc. Jt is, and mull 

 be often exceeding difficult to determine whe- 

 ther fofllh have derived their exiilcnce from fo- 

 lution, or from the cilecb of fire. According- 

 ly, to me it feems propvr, to Infcrt homogcncou - 



volcani<: 



