112 VESTIGES OF THE 



the ancient lieaclies miijjlit be occasioned by some such 

 causes. But, whatever doubt may i-est on this minoi- 

 point, enough has been ascertained to settle the main 

 one, that we have in these platforms indubitable monu- 

 ments of the last rise of the land from the sea, and the 

 concluding great event of the geological histoiy. 



The idea of such a widespread and possibly universal 

 submersion unavoidably suggests some considerations as 

 to the efiect which it might have upon terrestrial animal 

 life. It seems likely that this would be, on such an 

 occasion, extensively, if not universally destroyed. Nor 

 does the idea of its universal destruction seem tlie less 

 plausible, when we remark, that none of the species of 

 land animals heretofore discovered can be detected at a 

 subsequent period. The whole seem to have been now 

 changed. Some geologists incline to think that there 

 was at this time a new development of terrestrial animal 

 life upon the globe, and M. Agassiz, whose opinion on 

 such a subject must always be worthy of attention, 

 speaks all but decidedly for such a conclusion. It must, 

 however, be owned, that proofs for it are still scanty, 

 beyond the bare fact of a submersion which appears to 

 have had a very wdde range. I must thei-efore be con- 

 tent to leave this point, as far as geological evidence is 

 concerned, for future affirmation. 



There are some other superficial deposits, of less con- 

 sequence on the present occasion than the diluvium — 

 namely, lacustrine deposits, or tilled-up lakes ; alluvium, 

 or the deposits of rivers beside their margins ; deltas, the 

 deposits made by great ones at their effiux into the sea ; 

 peat mosses; and the vegetable soil. The animal re- 

 mains found in these generally testify to a zoology on 

 the verge of that which still exists, or melting into it, 

 there being included many species which still exist. In 



