THEORY OF THE EARTH. 241 



the surface, to be again displaced but by mol- 

 lusca and other animals similar to those of our 

 present seas ; the relations of these diversified be- 

 ings to the plants the remains of which accompany 

 theirs, the connection of these two kingdoms with 

 the mineral strata in which they are deposited ; 

 the greater or less uniformity existing between 

 these different orders of beings in the different 

 basins ; these are phenomena which appear to 

 me imperiously to demand the attention of philo- 

 sophers. 



Rendered interesting by the variety of the pro- 

 ducts of the partial or general revolutions of this 

 epoch, and by the abundance of the various species 

 that figure alternately on the stage, this study is 

 divested of the dryness of that of the primordial 

 formations, and does not, like it, almost necessa- 

 rily launch into hypotheses. The facts are so 

 direct, so curious, and so evident, that they are 

 sufficient, so to speak, to satisfy the most ardent 

 imagination ; and the conclusions to which they 

 lead from time to time, however scrupulous the 

 observer may be, having nothing vague in them, 

 are equally free of any thing arbitrary. In fine, 

 it is in those events that approach nearer to our 

 own times, that we may hope to find some traces 

 of more ancient events, and of their causes; if, 

 indeed, after so many fruitless attempts as have 

 been already made, one may be permitted to flat- 

 ter himself with such a hope. 



Q 



