GEOLOGY. 569 



tiny nummulites, the size of lentils, were forming imposing 

 chains of mountains in different parts of the globe. The 

 miliolites, infinitely smaller, multiplied at such a prodigious 

 rate that they deposited vast strata, which, as we have seen, 

 are nowadays quarried to build our dwellings with. 1 It 

 was also during this period of organic evolution that the 

 seas of the Paris basin abounded in such rich deposits of 

 shells, in those places where the great city was one day to 

 parade its splendor. It is amongst these that we discover 

 the gigantic Cerithium (Cerithium giganteum, Lam.), which 

 attains a length of nearly twenty inches, and a host of other 

 shells, in the most marvellous state of preservation, some of 

 which are represented in the preceding engraving. 



The vegetation of the tertiary epoch is remarkable for 

 the approach it makes towards ours. M. A. Brongniart ex- 

 presses himself as follows. " Looked at as seen in Europe," 

 says this learned botanist, " this vegetation displays, in par- 

 ticular, a great analogy with the present flora of the tem- 

 perate regions of the northern hemisphere." 



We are, in fact, astonished to find in the ancient strata 

 of this epoch unimpeachable remains of our present flora. 

 Nymphaese allowed their beautiful flowers to float on the 

 surface of the tranquil waters of the new world, whilst the 

 Potamogetons, or pond-weeds, displayed their leaves in the 

 depths. Lastly, we find here also Coniferae, oaks, elms, and 

 other different contemporary genera. 



1 See page 33. 



