164 On the Gnathodon beds around the head of Mobile Bay. 
Arr. XVII. AsO bseriations on the Gnathodon ou around the 
head of Mobile Bay; by Rev. C. S. Hau 
‘Tue most striking feature of the low, flat region, which forms 
the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and perhaps the only 
legitimate one for determining its place in the geological series, are 
the numerous Gnathodon beds scattered around its bays and deltas. 
"These remains have long eee the attention of various in- 
dividuals, none of whom, howev r, have favored the public with 
any res: alts of their se at ar per’ me few years since, an im- 
perfect sketch of what had then been ascertained respecting these 
beds, was furnished to gratify the desire of a few particular friends. ; 
Since then, more extended and satisfactory researches on the 
see have been deemed not unworthy of a greater publicity, 
as a means of extending the boundary of scientific knowledge. 
These deposits are not altogether unique in their character: 
they may be considered as similar in their formation, if not con- 
temporaneous with various others that have been noticed in dif- 
erent parts of the earth; and a reference to some of the latter by ; 
way of example, will not be irrelevant to the present design. s 
The first we shall name, occurs on the coast of Vendée near : 
St. Michael. There are three eminences here, which are entirely 
composed of marine shells, at a distance of five or six furlongs 
from the sea, and at an elevation of about five yards above the 
highest tides. These masses cousist of species actually living on 
the neighboring coast, such as Ostrea 7 Pecten sanguineus, 
Murex ‘imbricatus, Buecinum reticulatur 
Another has been observed on the piateanhe of St. Hospice, 
near Nice: it is seventeen yards above the level of the Mediter- 
ranean. It consists of calcareous sand, iueluding a large quantity 
of shells, but little altered, resembling those inhabiting the coast. 
A thick bed of marine shells also occurs near Maita, on a pen- 
insula between the Hellespont and the Gulf of Laros ; the species 
consist of Venus chione and cancellata, Solen vagina, and Ceri- 
thium vulgare ; the same are still living on the coast. Masses of 
the same shells may also be seen on the coast of Asia opposite. 
Similar instances are known in the island of Great a 
Adanson makes mention of a large collection of marine shells on 
the Scottish coast, found near Loch Lomond, seven yards above 
the level of the sea. Another occurs on the bank of the Forth, 
likewise ot near the Clyde. Each of ane roe 2 is eleval 
about four feet above the tide. 
But some of the most remarkable of the shell masses fave 
been observed in Sweden and Norway at an elevation far above 
the highest tides. The first is at Figa-elo in the northern part 
eeway, said to be situated more than one hundred ere 
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