DISTRIBUTION OT PLANTS. 277 



former state, which heat must, at that time, have been diffu- 

 sed over all the zones, because we find the same productions 

 in the slate formation of all parts of the earth *. In order 

 to explain this, it has been supposed, that the plane of the 

 ecliptic, during the former state of the globe, was completely 

 different in its position, and that, consequently, our planet had 

 then another situation in respect to the sun. But Bode, the 

 worthy veteran of Prussian astronomers, has srhewn, that the 

 plane of the ecliptic has been, for 65,000 years, between the 

 20th and 27th degree ; and that at present it is about 2g 

 minutes less, and, consequently, the inclination of the axis oi' 

 the earth as much greater, than in the time of Hipparchus, 

 who lived about two thousand years ago. The former solu- 

 tion must, therefore, be entirely abandoned ; (Neue Schrif- 

 ten der Berlin Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde). 



Shall we then consider as satisfactory another explanation, 

 which has been advanced by one of the most ingenious and 

 learned investigators of the ancient stcite of the globe ? Ac- 

 cording to this author, the Earth, during its primeval 

 state, was completely surrounded by water. By slow de- 

 grees the sea retired ; the highest mountain tracts were laid 

 bare, and the lowest and densest atmospherical stratum, 

 supported by the surface of the sea, now rested upon the 

 highest primitive land, which, like an island, emerged but a 

 little way above the ocean. While the heat was chiefly gene- 

 rated in the lower strata of the air, it must also, at that time, 

 have been equally diffused throughout all parts. The naked 

 summits of the mountains were gradually mouldered by the 



* It seems, indeed, that all the carbonaceous matter of the more ancient 

 slate formation ought to be considered as the oldest remains of plants which 

 had been growing, but which had been stopped in their progress; and 

 that all calcareous matter ought to be considered as the remains of a begun, but 

 suppressed creation of animal bodies ; (StefTen's Beytri^ge ziir innern Natur- 

 geschichte der Erde, s. 27. Dessen, Handbuch der Oryctognosic, b. ii.,s. .3.53.) 

 In what manner mineral substances are formed from corrupting vegetal)lc.s, 

 we perceive from the ])roduction of iron-i)yritcs, in our Peat Mosse^^, where it 

 is found in layers, under the thin, broad, reed leaves, after they have become 

 putrid. 



