352 Notice of a Scientific Expedition. 



materials thus abundant, (if the position is admitted,) rocks might 

 rapidly form of great thickness, a thickness, which if estimated on 

 the slow progress of increase at the present day, would require vast 

 periods. The only objection which we can see to this reasoning is, 

 that continents were raised gradually, or by successive throes, as it 

 were, from the bosom of the deep. Hence, the surface which would 

 be exposed to abrasion, at any one time could not furnish materials 

 for a single stratum. As yet, this point is left for decision to future 

 discoveries, although there are many facts in its favor. 



2d. We are gratified, to have it in our power to add to the evi- 

 dence, that many dicotyledonous vegetables existed as early at least, 

 as the coal formation which rests on the mountain limestone, and also 

 that on this side the- Atlantic, there is much reason to suppose they 

 are equally numerous as on the other. This fact breaks in upon 

 the harmonious order of creation, as stated by many geologists of 

 the present day, viz., " that the acotyledonous tribe of vegetables 

 first appear in the oldest rocks, then follow the monocotyledonous 

 plants, and that the dicotyledonous were not created until all the 

 rocky strata were deposited." Discoveries, however, establish so 

 much as this, that the number of acotyledonous and monocotyledo- 

 nous plants, predominated in early times ; there is this to be consid- 

 ered, however, and it is a draw back on the discoveries, that the 

 ferns, reeds, &c. grew probably, in marshy places, and under cir- 

 cumstances better fitted to ensure their preservation than the higher 

 order of plants. 



The success which has followed investigations in fossil botany, 

 may also follow in fossil zoology, in that department which relates 

 to mammiferous quadrupeds. If it is right to reason or speculate on 

 the existence of these animals independent of geological facts, we 

 should be disposed to maintain the affirmative. It seems more 

 agreeable to the harmonious order of creation which we know now 

 exists. That numerous tribes of animals should have been brought 

 into existence at the same time, that these tribes and families taken 

 as a whole, should form a complete series, and the different orders 

 and genera form a lineal succession, would be more agreeable to 

 the present order of things, and also that they should be formed on 

 different types or models, would be another point in which we have 

 reason to expect an agreement. Analogy, then, lends its support 

 to the view here taken. But an objector says the earth was not in 

 a settled state. When alligators and crocodiles were the lords of 



