Bibliographical Notices. 303 
eating that fecundation is an originally morbid phenomenon, and 
treating of the probable origin of the first organic cells, the author 
proceeds to the consideration of the characteristics of the successive 
geological periods :—I. Inorganic, beingless, lifeless, or hidden-life 
(cryptobiotic) periods. No fossils; volcanic products withut steam- 
cavities and glassless, and eruptions not dependent on water. 1. 
First, anhydrate, waterless, or sealess period (Primeval Gneiss) : 
+1000°-300° C. Sedimentary spheroidal formations (volcanic 
bombs, granite nodules) by glowing crystallized precipitates from 
the atmosphere, and their coagulation into primeval rocks destitute 
of hydrated minerals. 2. Second, thermohydrate or hot-sea period 
(Huronian): +3800°-130° C. Hot calciferous seas and aqueous 
cementation of the minerals left unconsolidated after the first period. 
3. Third, unfossiliferous and early-being, or eryptobiotic (hidden- 
life) period (Clay-slate): -++150°-140° C. Origin of the first animate 
existences, which were not, however, preserved fossil. Rock-forma- 
tion scanty, microcrystalline. 
II. Visible-life (pheenobiotic) or fossiliferous periods. Fossils 
present ; volcanic products dependent on water, with the hardness 
of the earth’s crust greater, the ocean’s saltness decreasing, and 
steam-cavities and glass-inclusions increasing. A. Azonal or zone- 
less-sea periods. No climatal zones nor continental climate. Flora 
and fauna confined quite or almost to the tranquil sea, which is full, 
since the still warm earth-crust absorbs but little water. The clastic 
sediments quickly conveyed from the naked and relatively small 
continents to the sea, and but slightly broken. ‘The absence of 
atmospheric carbonic acid permits of only a marine flora, 4. Fourth, 
or algo-marine period (Silurian): +40°-30° C., 4 per cent. of saline 
contents in the sea. Luxuriant marine algal flora, with a rich 
marine fauna, especially of calcareous animals. 5. F ifth, is prato- 
marine (sea-meadow ) period (Devonian): +380°-25° C., 4 per cent. 
of salt in the sea. Luxuriant, meadow-like, floating marine flora. 
Fishes, but of a freshwater character, plentiful. Borne or growing 
up above the water, the marine alge become by this supermarine 
habit vascular-cryptogamic, and also more suitable for the formation 
of coal. 6. Sixth, or sylvo-marine (sea-forest) period (Carboniferous, 
in part): +25°-15° C., as much as 1 per cent. of salt in the sea. 
The supermarine flora is more developed and woody ; with the first 
plants haying aerial fructification. The rootless Lepidosigillarie 
simply float. On the shore a woody, rooted, shallow-water flora is 
developed, with at last the first land-plants. Coal-beds are formed 
abundantly by the sinking of the decaying supermarine plant- 
remains to the bottom, if clay-beds lie upon and tend to preserve 
them; or there remains the Coal-Limestone separated by the sea- 
plants. By the exhalation of the supermarine forest the air becomes 
charged with carbonic acid, and thence the possibility of a ter- 
restrial flora. 7. Seventh, or sea-shore (marine littoral) period 
(Dyas or Permian): +15° C., up to 13 per cent. of salt in the sea, 
‘the supermarine flora nearly dies out ; the littoral flora increases. 
Angiosperms in the 6th and 7th periods. 
