THEORY OF THE EARTH. 71 



of die earth, have at the same time furnished its 

 principal illustrations the only ones, indeed, that 

 have as yet been generally received and acknow- 

 ledged.* 



This is the consideration by which I have been 

 encouraged to investigate the subject of extraneous 

 fossils. But the field is extensive ; and it is only 

 a very inconsiderable portion of it that can be cul- 

 tivated by the labour of a single individual. It 

 was necessary, therefore, to^select a particular de- 

 partment, and I very soon made my choice. That 

 class of extraneous fossils, which forms the pecu- 

 liar subject of this Essay, engaged my attention at 

 the very outset, because it is evidently the most fer- 

 tile in affording precise results, yet at the same 

 time less known than others, and richer in new ob- 

 jects of research.fj 



24. High Importance of investigating I fie Fossil Re- 

 mains of Quadrupeds. 



It is obvious that the fossil remains of the bones 

 of quadrupeds must lead to more rigorous conclu- 

 sions than any other remains of organized bodies* 

 and that for several reasons. 



* Note K. 



f My work on this subject \viil clearly show how far this inquiry is 

 yot new, notwithstanding the excellent labours of Camper, Pallas, 

 Blumenlweh, Merle, Scemmerring, Rosenmuller, Fischer, Fauja?, ami 

 other learned men, whose works I have most scrupulously cited in 

 puch of my chapters as their researches are connected with. 



t Note L. 



