TERTIARY. 133 



Geological reasoning founded upon the tertiary under consideration. 



From an examination of the shells of this formation, Mr. Lyell has expressed the opinion that 

 the climate of Canada, as well as that of the north of Europe, has undergone a considerable 

 change since the period of its deposition ; that it was colder at that time than at present, a 

 deduction founded upon the existence of animals now inhabiting a more northern latitude, or 

 which are now indigenous to a colder climate, and also to the limited number of species com- 

 pared with those now inhabiting the sea in the same latitude. Without calling in question 

 the correctness of Mr. Lyell's opinions, I would inquire whether the limited number of spe- 

 cies may not be accounted for on other grounds ? Viewing the whole formation not only as 

 quite recent, but as having been formed in a period comparatively short, may we not infer 

 that sufficient time was wanting to extend and increase the number of species in the estuaries 

 and along the shores, as they then existed ? As I have already remarked, the mass is thin ; 

 and it appears from examination, that no molluscous animals are found in the stiff' blue clays 

 which constitute at least two-thirds of the whole formation. Animals, therefore, did not ap- 

 pear at all in it till towards the close of the period when it was forming, or the materials 

 accmnulating ; the period, then, during which they existed, was short, and probably insuifi- 

 cient to people a wider extent of territory ; those species which had established themselves, 

 increased at some favorable points exceedingly, but the number of species increased but slowly, 

 and only as the condition of the sea became better fitted for their increase, and more favorable 

 to their habits ; all those portions which are now inland were upheaved, and became dry 

 land very soon after this state of things was established. To favor this view, we may re- 

 mark that there was undoubtedly a submergence of the country over which the tertiary is 

 now found, and that for a long period previous it had existed as dry land. The conditions 

 which would follow such a change or submergence, would be, as has elsewhere been stated, 

 a muddy state of the waters ill suited to the habits of the mollusca which are now found in 

 the tertiary. The result which I wish to arrive at, is simply this, that if time had been given, 

 molluscous animals would have been as numerous at this period in these particular localities 

 we have in view, as at any upon our present seacoast. In the list of fossils already given as 

 belonging to the tertiary of Champlain and Uddervalla, there are really but few which do not 

 exist upon the coasts of Massachusetts and Maine. By far the greater part are the inhabi- 

 tants of a temperate climate. 



Upon the subject and question of change in climate and condition of the globe, I have never 

 been able to find evidence of those extremes which are often taught in our books on geology, 

 and particularly by our popular lecturers. Placing great confidence in the principles taught 

 by Mr. Lyell, I have been led to look with a degree of skepticism upon those doctrines 

 which come tinctured with the wonders of the past ; the astounding changes and revolutions 

 which have taken place in the planet ; the heat and burning of a tropical sun in the latitude 

 of forty-five; and those glaciers encrusting half of the northern hemisphere, thousands of feet 

 in thickness, followed by the sudden and rapid fusion of the whole, and deluging continents 



