Botany and Zoology. 131 
the ocean by Maury, shows that the bottom of the Atlantic forms a lon- 
whole space between the European continent, Newfoundland, and Acadia. 
Beyond this space another long valley, but of less, depth, takes its rise, in 
a direction from south to ‘northeast between Madeira and the Azores ; it 
Tt 
If we may attribute any importance to these very general data, we 
must admit that during the miocene period the maritime plateau above 
indicated was solid ground. . 
This country, this ancient Atlantis, would have had the same plants as 
central miocene Europe, of which the remains are found in the molasse 
of Switzerland in such astonishing profusion, that I shall be able to give 
descriptions and figures of about six hundre species in my ‘ Flora Ter- 
tiaria.’ On the coast of this country the marine shells presented a grea 
conformity in America and Euro e; and this remarkable phenomenon is 
shells and fishes in common with America; which proves that at one 
Period a band of firm ground must have united these two parts of the 
world. The Atlantic islands had already risen towards the south coasts 
of this continent at the diluvian period. That this country was at the 
bottom of the sea during the miocene epoch, is shown by the fossil shells 
of Porto Santo and St. Vincent in Madeira and those of the Azores; but 
that it had emerged at the diluvian period is proved by the terrestrial 
The islands formed at this epoch would have received their vegetation 
from the Atlantis in the diluvian period, and consequently at an epoch 
isting flora of these islands. We there find the remains of the flora of 
the ancient Atlantis, and in consequence many types of the Tertiary flora 
are retained there whilst they have disappeared in Europe. cosas 
Mains, with a certain number of other species, form the peculiar plants 
of these isles, corresponding in part with the American species because 
ey have issued from the same centre of formation. it 18 we 
Europe that these islands have the most species in common, probably 
ause their connection with this continent lasted longer. 
At the diluvian period the flora of central Europe was displaced by 
Sreat changes of climate (extension of glaciers, dc.); and as by the de- 
Pression of the Atlantis the connection with America was destroyed, the 
new European vegetation could not extend on that side, but only tow 
the east. “It is thus that the characters of the new vegetation would be 
&xplained, particularly that of the lower countries, whilst the Alps and 
the north have undergone less change. This also is the reason 
isge °° Heer, “Ueber die fossilen Pflanzen von San Jorge in Madeira.” Zurich, 
