VEGETABLE KINGDOM DIAGBAM 20. 215 



MINERAL KINGDOM 



The Mineral Kingdom includes, as we have said, all sub- 

 stances which are not organic. The different kinds of stones 

 and metals belong to the mineral kingdom, as well as water ; 

 and the gases which are mingled in the atmosphere. 



If we descend into a quarry or cutting, and look at the sides, 

 the soil generally appears to be formed of different kinds of 

 earths or rocks arranged one above another. These are called 

 strata. Sometimes these strata are horizontal, and at other 

 times they are more or less slanting. There are some rocks, 

 however, which do not present this stratified appearance, and 

 which simply form large masses, like a single block. This is 

 more especially the case in countries where granite is found ; 

 but still two layers can be distinguished, for the granite is 

 nearly always covered with a layer of vegetable earth. The 

 formations when the strata are arranged one above another are 

 called sedimentary, and the others primitive formations. 



Primitive formations are so called beeause they are those 

 which were most anciently formed. The sedimentary formations 

 have been deposited above them by the agency of water. 



In sedimentary formations, the strata are often very dissimilar 

 to each other. They also frequently contain the imprints of 

 animals or plants, or else bones and petrified teeth. These re- 

 mains of beings which lived formerly are called fossils. In 

 some places there is an innumerable quantity of them, but in 



