STUDIES FOR STUDENTS 
A CENTURY OR PROGRESS IN, PALE ONDOLOEN 
THE presence of fossils in the rocks was observed by the 
ancient priests of Egypt, by the Brahmans of India, and by many 
other ancient peoples. In some cases the bones of gigantic 
mammals, such as the mammoth and mastodon, were observed, 
and, being considered as human bones, they gave origin to many 
of the beliefs inthe existence of races of giants. The Greeks 
and Romans also observed fossil shells, bones, and plants, and 
some of their philosophers speculated as to their origin, although 
little or no progress was made in their study. Some of these 
men believed that the shells found preserved in strata far inland 
were really the shells of once living animals, while others, with 
Theophrastus, ‘‘supposed them to be produced by a certain 
plastic virtue latent in our earth.” 
It was not until the early part of the sixteenth century that 
geologic phenomena began to attract the attention of the Chris- 
tian nations. At that period an animated controversy sprang up 
in Italy concerning the true nature and origin of marine shells 
and other fossils found abundantly in the strata of the penin- 
sula. In the year 1517 extensive excavations were made in 
Verona, which brought to light a multitude of curious petrifac- 
tions, and furnished matter for speculation to different authors. 
Among these was Fracastoro, who declared ‘that fossil shells 
had all belonged to living animals, which had formerly lived and 
multiplied where their exuvie are now found.’”’ He exposed the 
absurdity of having recourse to the plastic force of Theophrastus, 
which had power to fashion stones into organic forms, and also 
demonstrated the futility of attributing the situation of the shells 
in question to the Mosaic deluge, a theory that was obstinately 
defended by some. Fracastoro, however, had but few com- 
panions in his clear and philosophical views, and for nearly 
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