Principles of Geology. 17 



over the more recent ; and again, pieces of the more recent washed 

 upon those which are more ancient. Either of these examples is 

 sufficient, because it proves that allahe strata were completed before 

 the period of the deluge. 



Secondly : The deluge happened after parts of the earth were 

 dry, and inhabited by land animals. On this point the evidence is 

 so plain, simple, and convincing, that he^must be indeed strongly arm- 

 ed in scepticism who does not yield to its force. For we find in 

 gravel accumulated by the deluge, the bones of many land animals, 

 as the elephant, hippopotamus, horse, ox, deer, &c. Therefore, it 

 is perfectly plain, that such animals lived before the flood. 



What a noble field of inquiry does this comprehensive truth open 

 before us! To study the remains of a multitude of creatures which 

 have been extinct for some thousands of years, and v/hose living 

 analogues dwell only in distant and different countries. Cold as is 

 our climate, and now utterly unfit to maintain the existence of such 

 animals, the time has been, if we rightly understand the history of 

 the earth, when elephants and hippopotami, tigers and hyaenas, hved 

 here together, and here together met the common doom of all the 

 inhabitants of earth, destruction by overflowing water. And not in- 

 considerable was the number thus destroyed; for almost every gravel 

 pit and diluvial chfF, and limestone cavern, abound with their remains; 

 some of which, by their unusual proportions, indicate the gigantic size 

 and formidable strength of antediluvian quadrupeds. By comparing 

 them with existing species, we are enabled to conjecture the ante- 

 diluvian condition of the world, with what vegetables it was clothed, 

 and with what chmate it was blessed. No scope need be given to 

 fancy, the truth of analogy, the known conformity of nature, are sure 

 guides to the geologist. 



To discuss the interesting questions arising out of this magnificent 

 subject, would be deviating from the elementary plan of this chapter. 

 We must, therefore, refer to the works of Cuvier and Bucldand for 

 full illustrations of the forms and habits of antediluvian animals, and 

 the circumstances under which they are discovered ; whether in 

 gravel-pits inland, and in clifis by the sea; or in caves and fissures of 

 limestone, into which, they were dragged to death by their ravenous 

 contemporaries, or fell by accident, whilst browzing among the rocks, 

 whose open chasms the deluge has since concealed. 



But it will be demanded, What changes in the surface of our planet 

 were occasioned by these devastating waters? Was the antediluvian 



Vol. XXL— No. 1. 3 



