OP CREATION. 109 



elevatory movements and corresponding depressions 

 were continued incessantly at intervals to a very recent 

 period, (and, indeed, there is evidence that they have 

 not yet ceased in our own latitudes in Europe,) while, 

 on the other hand, very few instances are known of 

 extensive dislocation affecting the beds newer than the 

 magnesian limestone in the British islands, at any 

 period except that one marked by the commencement 

 of the tertiary series of deposits. 



There are no means whatever by which we can at 

 present determine how long a time elapsed between the 

 conclusion of the first great series of deposits in Eng- 

 land and the commencement of the next ; nor is it 

 for us to assert that the wild and chaotic confusion 

 resulting in all those violent dislocations of the hardest 

 strata, which we so readily observe, was in any way 

 inconsistent with the existence of life in many other 

 parts of the world, now, perhaps, covered with hun- 

 dreds of fathoms of salt water. But I would not 

 dwell on this possibility, for I wish only to speak of 

 what is known ; nor can it be necessary to wander 

 into the field of conjecture or romance, in order to 

 obtain a striking picture of a former state of existence 

 which shall exhibit all the charm of novelty, both in 

 the outline and colouring*. Without any such con- 

 jectures, of one thing at least we are certain: that 

 during this interval, whatever it may have been, and 

 however it may have been occupied in various parts of 

 the world, every species of animal, and almost every 

 vegetable, seems to have been replaced by some new 

 one, not differing much perhaps from the former, or 

 performing another office, but yet different, exhibiting 

 an instance of the rich variety of nature, and an effect 



