758 
the expression may be now applied, for instance, to the bottom of 
the German Ocean. He also concludes that this surface must have 
been horizontal, This will necessarily follow from the previous in- 
ference, unless it be contended that those animals whose remains 
are now found in the lower limestone beds could exist in the per- 
fect performance of all the functions of life, at the depth of several 
thousands of feet, under an enormous pressure and in darkness, as 
well as at small depths, under small pressure and in the light of the 
sun. 
This surface of junction wraps round the outer portion of the 
district, and, if continued as an imaginary surface, over the central 
portion in the manner which the inclination of the existing portion 
would obviously suggest, it would pass considerably over the tops 
of the highest mountains of the district, to whieh it would form a 
complete envelope. Hence it follows that if the movement which 
produced the geological elevation of the existing portion of the sur- 
face of junction affected the central portion of the district in the 
same manner as in all analogous cases in which the evidence is 
“complete, it will follow that the present surface of the Cumbrian 
mountams must have been beneath the surface of the ocean at the 
commencement of the deposition of the mountain limestone. The 
truth of this conclusion involves that also of the original horizon- 
tality of the surface of junction. 
The stratification of the older rocks of the district can afford no 
direet evidence on this point on account of the previous disturbance 
to which they had been subjected ; but the great faults of the di- 
strict prove to demonstration that its central portion must have 
been submerged in the ocean subsequently to the formation of those 
faults; for, if an enormous denudation had not taken place after 
their formation, every large fault must have given rise to a mural 
precipice, or great ridge (such as that which the Penrin and Craven 
faults have produced), by the elevation of the mass on one side of 
the fault relatively to that on the other. . The total absence of any 
such precipiee or ridge where enormous faults unquestionably exist, 
prove incontrovertibly the submergence above asserted. 
Faults.—The faults of this district may be arranged in three 
classes, according to the evidence we possess of their existence :— 
-(1.) Those which offer conclusive evidence of dislocation. Such 
are those of the Dudden, Coniston Water, one between Coniston 
ate and Windermere, Trentbeck and Kentmere. 
“ (2.) Faults along the Lake valleys. The existence of pee faults 
is inferred from that of the Jakes, the formation of which it would 
appear impossible to account for without referrmg them to disloca- 
tions along the valleys in which they are found. The bottom of 
Wastwater, for instance, is probably at a considerably lower level 
than the surface of the sea, and it has not been formed by the 
filling up of the lower end of the valley, for the bottom of it con- 
sists of the solid rock za site. It appears inconceivable that such a 
Jake should:have ‘been scooped out by the action of water. 
