554 MEADOW LEATHER. FOSSIL ANIMALCULES. 



since others of similar character have been found in such situa- 

 tions. One of these, formed as a green slime on the surface of 

 stagnant water covering a meadow, deposited itself when the 

 water was slowly let off; and it then became quite colourless, 

 resembling white dressed glove-leather, whence it received the 

 name of " Meadow Leather." When examined with the 

 microscope it was found to consist, like the Meteoric Paper, of 

 Confervce, intermixed with the siliceous remains of Infusoria 

 of various kinds. A similar mass of greater extent and thick- 

 ness, was recently found covering the ground after an inundation, 

 near Sabor in Siberia. This extended over a surface of several 

 hundred square feet, and was of a consistence resembling flannel. 

 It consisted, like the Meteoric Paper, and Meadow Leather, of a 

 matted mass of Conferva, interwoven with fifteen species of 

 Infusoria, and some shells of the Dapknia (water-flea). 



1 133. It is in considering the accumulations of these remains, 

 however, which have taken place in successive ages, and which 

 have come down to us, sometimes in the form of large distinct 

 beds, sometimes as constituents of others, that we are the most 

 impressed with the vast amount of animal life, to which they owed 

 their origin. Even the accumulations of this nature which are 

 at present in progress of formation, startle us by their magnitude, 

 when we consider the extreme minuteness of the organised structures 

 of which they are composed. Ehrenberg states that, in the Public 

 Garden at Berlin, workmen were employed for several days in 

 removing in wheelbarrows masses of earth, which, on examina- 

 tion, were found to consist entirely of Infusoria already becoming 

 fossilized. These had probably lived and increased, much in the 

 condition in which their remains were found. In other instances, 

 a deposit of mud is taking place at the bottom of lakes and 

 marshes containing the living animals ; and thus an accumulation 

 is going on, which will possess something of the laminated struc- 

 ture exhibited in all masses slowly deposited in water. Of this 

 fact, abundant instances are related by Ehrenberg as occurring in 

 various parts of Europe. Such a deposit has also been found by 

 Professor Bailey at West Point, New York, at about a foot 

 below the surface of a peat bog ; it was eight or ten inches thick, 



